عنوان

Adult basic skills in Great Britain :

TLets572961

Adult basic skills in Great Britain :

[Thesis]

Parsons, Samantha

evidence from the 1970 British Cohort Study at age 34

Institute of Education, University of London

2012

Ph.D.

Institute of Education, University of London

2012

The aim of this research was to improve understanding of the disadvantage andexclusion experienced over the life course by a significant minority of the British adultpopulation who have poor basic skills. This was achieved by:a) The development of an assessment tool that accurately assessed basic skillsb) Providing evidence regarding the prevalence, antecedents and consequences ofbasic skill problems in Great Britain, andc) Identifying potential policy levers to improve the British skill base.By relating the levels of basic skills to current government standards in arepresentative sample of the British general population, the 1970 British Cohort Study(BCS70), the research makes an important and original contribution to the knowledgebase. Findings suggest that 8% of adults had a very poor (Entry Level) grasp of literacy and40% Entry Level numeracy skills. Those with Entry Level skills in either literacy ornumeracy had a relatively disadvantaged home life in childhood, both economically and interms of education levels and educational support offered by parents. In adult life, EntryLevel skills were associated with a lack of qualifications, poor labour market experienceand prospects, poor material and financial circumstances, poor health and a reduced levelof social and political participation. Furthermore, the link between poor basic skills anduse of computers, symptoms associated with dyslexia, and the intergenerationaltransmission of poor skills has highlighted some important potential levers for policymakers. As such, it is hoped that the findings from this life course research will be used tomake a real contribution at the ground level.

Parsons, Samantha

Institute of Education, University of London

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y