Research centre for adult basic skills to be set up

Citation

(2002), "Research centre for adult basic skills to be set up", Education + Training, Vol. 44 No. 4/5. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2002.00444dab.008

Research centre for adult basic skills to be set up

Research centre for adult basic skills to be set up

A new national research and development centre for adult basic skills is to be set up to enable the Government to evaluate and build upon the strategy to improve the literacy, language and numeracy skills needs of 750,000 adults by 2004. Speaking at a conference for more than 600 basic-skills teachers in London, John Healey, minister for adult skills, said: "There are still gaps in our knowledge about what will motivate adults with literacy and numeracy weaknesses to take part in learning. We also need to be clear about the best ways of helping them to make rapid and significant progress in their literacy and numeracy skills. We cannot leave the methods we use to chance. Our research and development centre will seek out best practice from around the world and test out new ideas and approaches to learning so that we enable all adults to reach their full potential." The centre's work will be led by the Institute of Education in London and will be supported by the universities of Lancaster, Nottingham and Sheffield and other partners. The consortium members will conduct investigations into what works in helping adult learners to achieve.