THE Learning and Skills Council has been warned that it is going to have its work cut out bringing the skills of English workers up to the level of their foreign counterparts.
“Although standards are rising, England has serious weaknesses in the level of qualifications held by its work force,” says Derek Wanless, chairman of the National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets, in its final report before the creation of the LSC.
Itsays performance at university level is among the best in the world but, at lower attainment levels, there are serious weaknesses, primarily with literacy and numeracy. National learning targets “most at risk of not being met” are those for 19 and 21-year-olds.
NACETT recommends more race and gender-related performance targets, a new lifelong learning strategy and improved data for international comparisons.
See www.tesfefocus.co.uk
