From education to employment

International Literacy Day Sees Old Books, New Tricks

International Literacy Day on the 8th September saw staff at the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in Lancashire swapping old books with their colleagues.

All manner of books changed hands, free of charge, including novels, thrillers and children’s stories. Learning is “ā€œ as the name would suggest “ā€œ one of the priorities of the LSC. Learning Executive at the LSC Lancashire and book swap organiser Wendy Holden stressed the inspirational potential in books, saying: “One of the best ways to learn is by reading “ā€œ and it’s such fun too.”Ā

The event proved to be very popular amongst the staff. Executive Director of the LSC in Lancashire, Steve Palmer, stated that he believed the event highlighted the importance of literacy. In Lancashire alone 1 in 8 people have basic literacy needs, amounting to over 100,000 people. He feels literacy is a crucial step in succeeding at work and giving people confidence in life. He said: “We are addressing this need through basic skills programmes.”Ā

Uniting the Nations

International Literacy Day and the LSC’s dedication to further developing the level of literacy in this manner are not an isolated event. The Government has recently highlighted the importance of improving the basic skills levels of British learners, concentrating on this challenge in the 14 “ā€œ 19 Skills White Paper. This policy, set out by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), clearly states that the government are committed to improving the basic skills levels of numeracy and literacy.

This does not mark a limited national declaration of intent, however. International Literacy Day is organised through the United Nations. Throughout the week and all over the world, events are organised each year to focus the world’s attention on literacy issues and needs.

Any employers within the region covered by LSC Lancashire who wish to give their staff the opportunity to improve their numeracy skills and gain a qualification should contact Business Link Lancashire on 0845 600 9006.

Angela Balakrishnan

International Literacy Day, or just another Thursday? You tell us in the FE Blog


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