This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Literacy training pilot
02/10/2001
The first pilot project for the new national training programme for adult literacy is to be tested in the Western Isles.
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Alasdair Morrison today welcomed the project which will provide improved training for volunteer tutors and help the development of nationally approved standards in adult literacy training.
The Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland report published in July identified the need for a national training strategy to provide national training standards for all staff and volunteers whose roles relate to literacy and numeracy. The report addressed the need for a new qualification for specialist literacy and numeracy practitioners by 2003 and recommended that all staff and volunteers should meet the national training standards by 2005.
Since the report's publication, the National Training Project on Adult Literacy has been developing a framework for the new national training programme, developing and piloting new training modules, as well as providing guidance and developing training workshops for Community Learning Strategy Partnerships. The new training programme will now be piloted in the Western Isles.
Welcoming the first pilot the Minister said:
"We live in a world where the ability to participate in and contribute fully to our communities and economy will depend increasingly on people's literacy and numeracy skills.
"This is the first step in the process of developing a national training programme for those who provide vital support to adults in these aspects. The Scottish Executive is committed to improving training opportunities and developing new training standards. It is crucial that we support those who volunteer their time and effort to help others - particularly on something as fundamental as literacy and numeracy.
"Our ultimate aim is to create a flexible, nationally accredited training programme, which addresses the needs of both volunteers and professional staff to raise standards across the country.
"I am delighted that the Western Isles is spearheading this campaign. This is a practical demonstration of our commitment to remember the needs of remote rural areas when implementing new policy initiatives
BACKGROUND
With £400,000 of funding from the Scottish Executive, the National Training Project on Adult Literacy was set up in October 2000 and now employs 11 staff. The training project is a crucial part of the Executive's capacity building efforts, as it responds to the challenge in the report of making Scotland's literacy and numeracy services world class. It complements and supports the £18.5m being invested in Community Learning Strategy Partnerships to help 80,000 over the next 3 years.
The National Training Project on Adult Literacy initially carried out a full training needs analysis of Scotland's literacy practitioners, and ran 37 training events across the country to raise awareness of the issue of low literacy and numeracy skills. Since the report's publication it has focussed on developing a framework for the new national training programme, developing and piloting new training modules, and liaising with appropriate organisations about their accreditation. It will also be providing training workshops in October and November for those developing action plans on adult literacy in Community Learning Strategy Partnerships.