There is nothing basic about Basic Skills

Date: 21 April 2008

There is nothing basic about Basic Skills

Basic Skills are about reading, writing and using numbers. They cover a range of levels and abilities – from simply being able to read a poster or fill in a form at work, to being able to write lengthy letters, do agendas and take minutes of meetings.

Everybody has skills and talents. However, sometimes people need to brush up on their Basic Skills. For some people their reading, writing and number skills have gone rusty because they haven't had a chance to use them since leaving school. For others, it is because they never developed these skills at school for one reason or another.

Many people with poor Basic Skills cope well in work because of their experience and knowledge of the job. However, as jobs change, and new technology is introduced, workers with limited Basic Skills find it increasingly difficult to cope or to find alternative work. About 80,000 Usdaw members need to develop their Basic Skills to some extent.

The Basic Skills crisis affects us all

Basic Skills problems result in poor quality work, waste, lost production, bad communications and the need for employers to recruit staff externally. This costs employers £4.8 billion a year. It costs the country £10 billion a year.

Employers don't usually see improving Basic Skills as their responsibility. Because it is a sensitive issue, when they do try to tackle it without involving Union Learning Reps, they often fail.

A lack of Basic Skills threatens our members' job security, promotion prospects and long-term employability. If Usdaw does not take up this issue, our members will have an increasingly insecure future in the world of work.

"I never liked school - I hated it! But learning in an adult environment is brilliant...it has given me much more confidence in myself and I have recently been promoted to store manager! Now I have made my first step back into learning, I just keep going back for more."

Linda Crombleholme
Ethel Austin Retail, Liverpool

What do we mean by Basic Skills?

The official definition of Basic Skills is 'the ability to read, write and speak English and use maths at a level needed to function and progress at work and in society in general.'

Sometimes people use other names to describe Basic Skills, like 'Skills for Life' or 'Essential Skills'. Whatever they are called, without them Usdaw members will face increasing difficulty in the world of work, at home and even in aspects of their union work.

The term Basic Skills is used to cover three main levels: Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 involves the literacy or numeracy levels needed to get a GCSE at Grades D-F. Level 2 involves the skills needed to get a GCSE at grades A-C. Clearly there is nothing basic about Basic Skills!

Usdaw members can take a recognised national test to see what level they are at, or to see how their learning has progressed. These tests cover all levels - Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2.

A trained Union Learning Rep can spot a member with poor Basic Skills. This is called 'initial screening'. However, sometimes Basic Skills needs can be complicated or can be the result of a disability like dyslexia.

Assessing Basic Skills needs and diagnosing any problems is not for amateurs. A properly qualified professional should carry out any assessment beyond that of initial screening. Neither Union Learning Reps nor company trainers should try to substitute themselves for a properly qualified professional.

Remember all Basic Skills courses and qualifications up to and including Level 2 are FREE!

"As part of the Government's ETP scheme 11 of our members were given 'time off the job' to work towards gaining qualifications in literacy and numeracy.

The enthusiasm and commitment shown was phenomenal. Everybody completed the course and gained a qualification at the end of it!"

Lynn Akroyd
Union Learning Rep
Reality, Oldham

Basic facts on Basic Skills

The education system in Britain works very well for the elite. University education is on a par with the best in the world. But the lower you get down the system, the worse it is. Britain has a major shortage of people with intermediate skills, and we are near the bottom of the league table when it gets to Basic Skills.

• Basic Skill levels are much lower in Britain than other developed countries. In Britain, seven million adults (23 per cent) are at the lowest literacy level. That is one in five adults in Britain who have a problem.

• 3.2 million people in the workplace have some sort of Basic Skills need and that includes over 80,000 Usdaw members!

• The range of jobs open to people with poor Basic Skills is small and shrinking. 98 per cent of jobs require some basic literacy and numeracy.

• Poor Basic Skills often affect confidence and result in low self-esteem.

Some people find it difficult to develop their literacy and numeracy skills because they have a specific learning difficulty. This is commonly called dyslexia.

• One person in 10 is mildly affected and one person in 25 is seriously affected by dyslexia.

• More than 12,000 Usdaw members are seriously affected by dyslexia, and more than 30,000 affected to some extent.

A dyslexic may need specialist teaching from a tutor that understands their needs. (See the Usdaw Guide to Dyslexia).

"I undertook a series of tests, which analysed my IQ, reading and comprehension abilities. To my relief they established that I was dyslexic. This explained my problem at school. I now use a coloured filter, which can help."

George Cain
Usdaw Area Organiser

Getting organised - tackling Basic Skills

Before you start trying to tackle Basic Skills, there are some things you need to do:

• Basic Skills should not be promoted in isolation. It needs to form part of an all round learning initiative. In fact, employers know that to deal with Basic Skills they need to work with us. So, we can negotiate with employers to have a broader learning initiative in exchange for our help with Basic Skills.

• To develop a broad learning initiative, you need to attend the Usdaw five-day Union Learning Rep course. To get on this course, contact Usdaw's Education department.

If you have already got trained Usdaw Learning Reps onsite and want to promote Basic Skills, you will need to think about the following:

• Usdaw has a two-day training course on Basic Skills Awareness. This is a normal follow-on course for all Usdaw Learning Reps. Your first step to tackling Basic Skills is to get on this two-day course.

• Talk to an Usdaw Lifelong Learning Project Worker. Usdaw has lots of experience in tackling Basic Skills and one of our project workers can share this experience with your Site Learning Committee or Branch Committee.

• There are many different ways to encourage members to get involved in learning. Various publicity materials are available from the Stationery Department at Usdaw's Central Office.

Get organised, get trained and get learning!

There is nothing basic about Basic Skills (LLL No. 4) was correct at date of publication October 2003.

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Last Modified: Wednesday, 30-Apr-2008 23:08:24 EST