CBI: School leavers lack core skills
A new report has indicated that many people leaving school are doing so without having mastered the three core skills, reading, writing and arithmetic.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has stated that nearly half of the employers it surveyed, 42 per cent, were unhappy with the reading, writing and numeracy skills of their employees.
The survey also found that only 54 per cent had got at least a C for maths, while only 60 per cent managed it in English.
Sir Digby Jones, director general of the CBI said: “A working knowledge of English and maths provides a vital foundation for the modern world of work – but the education system is failing many young people by leaving them ill-equipped.”
The CBI has now called for the government to take greater measures to ensure that school leavers are properly equipped for life after education.
The Department for Education has already stated that steps are being taken to make GCSEs tougher, while proposed reforms to the league tables would give greater recognition to schools where pupils scored grades between A and C in English and maths.
John Dunford, the general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, told BBC News: “I do think that schools have become aware that they are needing to put more emphasis on achievements in basic maths and English.
“Up until now, of course, schools have been deemed successful if students get any five A to C passes at the GCSE.”
The report was published ahead of the announcement of this year’s crop of GCSE results on August 25.
