LITERACY SKILLS IN SCOTLAND

The Scottish Government has published the findings of the Scottish Survey of Adult Literacies (SSAL) 2009. The report is available online at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/22091814/0

The main headline findings are:-

·  Three quarters (73.3%) of the Scottish working age population have a level of skills recognised internationally as appropriate for a contemporary society.

·   One quarter (26.7%) may face occasional challenges and constrained opportunities due to their literacy skills.

·   Within this quarter, we find 3.6% face serious challenges in their literacy practices.

·   Literacy skills in Scotland are comparable with many of the world’s leading economies.

·   Poor literacies skills are strongly correlated with poverty and deprivation within Scotland.

This new knowledge will help inform the next stages of the adult literacy and numeracy strategy for Scotland.

Fairways will keep you informed of new information as it becomes available.