Sure they are.

A survey has shown that only 55% of Aussies have the literacy & numeracy skills to enable business to function adequately.

Bet they've been taught how to vote though. That's the main thing.

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 8:46am:

Sure they are. A survey has shown that only 55% of Aussies have the literacy & numeracy skills to enable business to function adequately. Bet they've been taught how to vote though. That's the main thing.

The stat looks to be replicated on this forum.

is that HOW to vote or WHO to vote for..


what pings me off is all the excursions its all they do...we have funny ideas...the three Rs seem to have been thrown out with the baby..... now they have spellcheck and google even maps the future generations will have forgotten how to even think...no wonder some go crazy if the mobile is taken of them.. they would rather lose and eye  >:( >:(..

there was something in the news about parents not being able to afford the latest computers/laptop/ipad.. call it what you will....and their kids are seriously disadvantaged.......

I am amazed they teach them how to hold a pen these days.

Media Centre   

Low literacy and numeracy skills plaguing employers
Monday 18 January 2016 
 


A new report "Tackling Foundation Skills in the Workforce" released today by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) highlights the impact low levels of workforce literacy and numeracy skills are having on the workforce with 93 per cent of surveyed employers identifying this as negatively impacting their business.

Of the 300 employers surveyed, poor completion of workplace documents was the greatest frustration as a result of low literacy and numeracy- reported by 42% of employers, material errors and wastage (32%) and teamwork and communication problems (28%).

This supports recent international data - Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) - which found 44% of Australians have literacy proficiency skills levels below level 3 - considered to be the minimum to operate effectively in the workplace and society.  Worse still was Australia's ranking in regards to numeracy proficiency, with 55% of adults below level 3.
  "These results indicate a deepening concern about the level of foundation skills in the workforce and a continuing drag on the nation's productivity," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"As Australia continues to evolve towards the digital economy, increasingly more sophisticated skills within the workforce are required. The rapid expansion of ICT skills and technological advancement is changing the nature of employment. Occupations with highly-educated workers are expanding much more rapidly than other occupations. So the mastery of literacy and numeracy is increasingly more important to meet the challenges of this evolving economy," Mr Willox said.

According to the research, skill development support from supervisors or mentors was the largest response to the skills challenge from large (31.6%) and medium size businesses (28.2%).  This training of staff has proven to be a worthwhile investment. Ai Group's research into return on investment for employers who participate in workplace foundation skills programs included Intercast & Forge in South Australia, who reported a 163% return for their involvement.

While a number of Ai Group's recommendations have been advanced in the literacy and numeracy space, more still needs to be improved, including:

•         Implementing a national foundation skills strategy to boost workforce foundation skills;
•         Developing a new national foundation skills program targeted at workplaces;
•         Implementing a new national foundation skills program on a pilot basis in consultation with industry;
•         Developing employer networks like  the Employer Champions Network;
•         Expanding the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practitioner Scholarships Programme to lift the number of qualified    practitioners in the LLN teaching workforce; and
•         Raising awareness about the return on investment benefits for employers who support their employees LLN training.

"We need a renewed focus on literacy and numeracy skills to deal with the way the economy is changing. We need leadership from the Government in this area and a commitment to develop a new national program would be an important step to tackle these issues," Mr Willox said.

It's not a new problem, Maria is almost 60 yrs old and she still can't read.

Well that immediately got a chuckle out of me, but if you're going to think about it seriously it's a REAL problem.

And you know what, it seems to me as technology becomes an ever greater part of our life, the problem gets bigger.
Innovation Mr Turnbull?
Let's learn to crawl first.

another report...probably tellin gus what the last report said and the one before that..

its all words boges...look they chuck out theold.. never fails.. my grandson is 11 and doesnt know his tables....we used to chant the tables every morning....

it was how we learnt them...chuck it out old fashioned...does anyone remember cuisenaire rods...

for petes sakes ::) ::) ::) ::)...its toys for gods sakes... but I guess someone made a fortune.....

they muck around so much yet the old ways were best...up date is one thing but to chuck something out that wasnt broke.. seems pathetic to me... we are playing with the  brains of the future..

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 8:46am:

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 8:46am: Sure they are. A survey has shown that only 55% of Aussies have the literacy & numeracy skills to enable business to function adequately. Bet they've been taught how to vote though. That's the main thing. The stat looks to be replicated on this forum.

There are many forum members here who don't know how to vote.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:17pm:

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 8:46am: bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 8:46am: Sure they are. A survey has shown that only 55% of Aussies have the literacy & numeracy skills to enable business to function adequately. Bet they've been taught how to vote though. That's the main thing. The stat looks to be replicated on this forum. There are many forum members here who don't know how to vote.

or don't want to.

double plus good wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:23pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 1:17pm: sir prince duke alevine wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 8:46am: bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 8:46am: Sure they are. A survey has shown that only 55% of Aussies have the literacy & numeracy skills to enable business to function adequately. Bet they've been taught how to vote though. That's the main thing. The stat looks to be replicated on this forum. There are many forum members here who don't know how to vote. or don't want to.

or be allowed to.

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:12pm:

Well that immediately got a chuckle out of me, but if you're going to think about it seriously it's a REAL problem. And you know what, it seems to me as technology becomes an ever greater part of our life, the problem gets bigger. Innovation Mr Turnbull? Let's learn to crawl first.

I think part of it stems from the fact that these days our kids are expected to learn much much more in the same time frame. 

Aussie wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:25pm:

double plus good wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 1:23pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 1:17pm: sir prince duke alevine wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 8:46am: bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 8:46am: Sure they are. A survey has shown that only 55% of Aussies have the literacy & numeracy skills to enable business to function adequately. Bet they've been taught how to vote though. That's the main thing. The stat looks to be replicated on this forum. There are many forum members here who don't know how to vote. or don't want to. or be allowed to.

Indeed.

"Persons of unsound mind and persons who have been convicted of treason or treachery are not entitled to enrol or vote (see s 93 of the Electoral Act)."

http://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Publications/backgrounders/compulsory-voting.htm

cods wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:13pm:

another report...probably tellin gus what the last report said and the one before that.. its all words boges...look they chuck out theold.. never fails.. my grandson is 11 and doesnt know his tables....we used to chant the tables every morning.... it was how we learnt them...chuck it out old fashioned...does anyone remember cuisenaire rods... for petes sakes ::) ::) ::) ::)...its toys for gods sakes... but I guess someone made a fortune..... they muck around so much yet the old ways were best...up date is one thing but to chuck something out that wasnt broke.. seems pathetic to me... we are playing with the  brains of the future..

Yes, and a damned good idea they were, too.

Toys they were not.

I actually still have a set which belonged to my ex - we
taught our kids their basic maths with them too.

John Smith wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:26pm:

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 1:12pm: Well that immediately got a chuckle out of me, but if you're going to think about it seriously it's a REAL problem. And you know what, it seems to me as technology becomes an ever greater part of our life, the problem gets bigger. Innovation Mr Turnbull? Let's learn to crawl first. I think part of it stems from the fact that these days our kids are expected to learn much much more in the same time frame.

Well I think that's true & that may be a big issue.
It's as if every generation there's more knowledge out there and you guys will just have to absorb it.
But everybody has to be a generalist before they become a specialist.

Kat wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:31pm:

cods wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 1:13pm: another report...probably tellin gus what the last report said and the one before that.. its all words boges...look they chuck out theold.. never fails.. my grandson is 11 and doesnt know his tables....we used to chant the tables every morning.... it was how we learnt them...chuck it out old fashioned...does anyone remember cuisenaire rods... for petes sakes ::) ::) ::) ::)...its toys for gods sakes... but I guess someone made a fortune..... they muck around so much yet the old ways were best...up date is one thing but to chuck something out that wasnt broke.. seems pathetic to me... we are playing with the  brains of the future.. Yes, and a damned good idea they were, too. Toys they were not.

Yep.

I was brought up with rods.

Very useful.

This is real issue, and look at all the snide comments.

cods wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:13pm:

...does anyone remember cuisenaire rods...

Never heard of them.  I had to Google.

I am noticing more and more that literacy in Australia is disgraceful. 

When my youngest was in school he was forever bringing home assignments on Aborigines and way too much politically correct mumbo jumbo.

I am all for kids learning about the Aborigines etc but there has to be a balance between a politically correct curriculum and the nuts and bolts of what they really need  to succeed out in the real world ie the 3 r's.

Back to the basics is a necessity.

Black Orchid wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:44pm:

cods wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 1:13pm: ...does anyone remember cuisenaire rods... Never heard of them.  I had to Google.

I used them in the late '60s and early '70s, in QLD and WA.

They were very popular.

Not in my school   ;D

cods wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 1:13pm:

another report...probably tellin gus what the last report said and the one before that.. its all words boges...look they chuck out theold.. never fails.. my grandson is 11 and doesnt know his tables....we used to chant the tables every morning.... it was how we learnt them...chuck it out old fashioned...does anyone remember cuisenaire rods... for petes sakes ::) ::) ::) ::)...its toys for gods sakes... but I guess someone made a fortune..... they muck around so much yet the old ways were best...up date is one thing but to chuck something out that wasnt broke.. seems pathetic to me... we are playing with the  brains of the future..

We use to have tables races. kids would get in the aisles between the desks the teacher at the front would then spurt out 7n 8s, who ever answered first would take a step forward.

Some kids used to click there fingers as they answered as fast as they could, others would lean forward as they answered or hop on the spot, there was all sorts of body actions some were comical.

You won by reaching the front first and be rewarded with a redskin, or a banana or a choc mate or other.


At our primary school the Derwent color pencils were the hip thing to have, no matter who owned them they were considered cool.

how is it that kids are going to school longer but are coming out stupider???

stupid leftist soft touch schooling...

why is it when the leftist get their way everything goes arseup???  >:(

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 5:34pm:

how is it that kids are going to school longer but are coming out stupider???

I heard that you liked third grade so much, that you did it twice.

Is that right?

I just heard on the news that 93% of businesses are suffering in one way or another from employee illiteracy.

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 5:34pm:

how is it that kids are going to school longer but are coming out stupider??? stupid leftist soft touch schooling... why is it when the leftist get their way everything goes arseup???  >:(

We had this bully in our class he would go around and hit other kids in the stomach while they were unaware it was coming.

The teacher caught him, at recess she made him stand at the door and as all the kids boys and girls walked to play time we had to hit him in the stomach.

The teacher was right there supervising and making sure no one tried to hit him as hard as they could, cause there were some in there who were looking for payback.

By the time half a dozen went out this kid was crying, must have hurt getting hit in the same spot by 20-25 kids.

Over the next few weeks this kid became the best mannered kid out of his class room.

Bully problem solved.

Ajax wrote on Jan 18^th, 2016 at 5:42pm:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 18th, 2016 at 5:34pm: how is it that kids are going to school longer but are coming out stupider??? stupid leftist soft touch schooling... why is it when the leftist get their way everything goes arseup???  >:( We had this bully in our class he would go around and hit other kids in the stomach while they were unaware it was coming. The teacher caught him, at recess she made him stand at the door and as all the kids boys and girls walked to play time we had to hit him in the stomach. The teacher was right there supervising and making sure no one tried to hit him as hard as they could, cause there were some in there who were looking for payback. By the time half a dozen went out this kid was crying, must have hurt getting hit in the same spot by 20-25 kids. Over the next few weeks this kid became the best mannered kid out of his class room. Bully problem solved.

They are preparing closet poms for a lifetime career in the service industry. Don't need literacy and numeracy because automation is taking care of that.

They just need enough nous to identify a buck and kowtow appropriately to the customer.