For Immediate Release
The Literacy Commission established by the Labour Party in 2008 recently reported that up to 1 million adults in Scotland have difficulty with reading. Trade unions have proven to be highly successful in meeting the demand for workplace learning with the support of the current Scottish and European funding structures. However, there is currently no Government strategy for workplace literacy and the ability to access appropriate everyday skills workplace provision varies greatly across the country.
Speaking in support of a co-ordinated and properly funded approach to boosting literacy in workplaces across Scotland, Anne Douglas, Scottish Union Learning Board Chair, said:
"There is a strong need for a central funding stream that can be accessed throughout the country and the Government has a responsibility to ensure there are consistent funding arrangements in place that are responsive to unique workplaces and the particular needs of every learner. To create a fair and equitable learning society in the future, Scottish Union Learning urges all political parties to commit to provide dedicated funding for workplace literacies."
Sylvia O’Grady, Scottish Union Learning Manager, said:
“The ability to access appropriate everyday skills workplace provision varies greatly across the country, and is largely dependent on the approach adopted by each local authority adult literacies partnership. In response to the Literacy Commission Report, Scottish Union Learning seeks a long-term core funding commitment from the Government, together with a coherent workplace literacies strategy for Scotland.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Scottish Union Learning was launched in May 2008. The Scottish Government allocated just under £4.25m to Scottish Union Learning and union-led learning initiatives until March 2011. Scottish Union Learning works in partnership with unions to drive forward trade union led learning in Scotland and administers the Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) and the ESF Scottish Fund for Union Learning.
Union Learning Reps provide literacy and numeracy support in their workplaces to many of the 644,000 trade unionists in Scotland who are affiliated to the STUC.
Download the full press release.