{"id":419799,"date":"2011-05-09T00:00:48","date_gmt":"2011-05-09T00:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/05\/09\/school-leavers-lack-key-skills\/"},"modified":"2011-05-09T00:00:48","modified_gmt":"2011-05-09T00:00:48","slug":"school-leavers-lack-key-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/09\/school-leavers-lack-key-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"School leavers ‘lack key skills’"},"content":{"rendered":"

8 May 2011<\/span> Last updated at<\/span> 20:00 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By Hannah Richardson<\/span> BBC News education reporter<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Too many young people are leaving school without adequate basic skills, a survey of business leaders suggests.<\/p>\n

More than four out of 10 are unhappy with youngsters’ use of English, while 35% bemoan their numeracy skills.<\/p>\n

The annual study of 566 UK employers for the Confederation of British Industry also heralds a shortage of high-skilled employees, particularly in maths and science.<\/p>\n

The government said the CBI was right to raise concerns over basic skills.<\/p>\n

The organisation’s annual education and skills survey also suggests that many employers (44%) have had to invest in remedial training for school and college leavers.<\/p>\n

Despite the claims, last year’s GCSE results were the highest on record with seven out of 10 entries being awarded a grade C or above.<\/p>\n

Companies also said young people lacked important employability skills.<\/p>\n

Some 69% complained about inadequate business and customer awareness and 55% highlighted poor self-management skills.<\/p>\n

Continue reading the main story<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cStart Quote<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n

It’s alarming that a significant number of employers have concerns \u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

End Quote<\/span> John Cridland<\/span> CBI director general<\/span><\/div>\n

The survey also highlighted a lack of available skilled staff. Some 43% were unable to find science, technology, engineering and maths specialists (Stem). And 53% predicted problems in finding such staff in the future.<\/p>\n

Two-thirds thought the government should tackle these shortages by doing more to promote maths and science in schools and supporting Stem-related apprenticeships.<\/p>\n

John Cridland, director general of the CBI, said: “It’s alarming that a significant number of employers have concerns about the basic skills of school and college leavers.<\/p>\n

“Companies do not expect schools and colleges to produce ‘job-ready’ young people, but having a solid foundation in basic skills such as literacy and numeracy is fundamental for work.”<\/p>\n

On the Stem shortage, he added: “With UK businesses looking to win a larger share of global markets as we re-balance the economy, the skills bar is constantly being raised by international competition.<\/p>\n

“Higher-skilled employees, especially in science, technology, engineering and maths will be some of the most in demand.<\/p>\n

“The government must improve the take-up of science and maths in schools and support the development of Stem apprenticeship programmes so that employers are able to recruit the right people to drive growth.”<\/p>\n

He added that with 930,000 16 to 24-year-olds currently inactive the “danger was stark”.<\/p>\n

‘Key subjects’<\/span><\/p>\n

A spokesman for the Department for Education said the CBI was right to raise concerns about the standards of English and maths of so many young people.<\/p>\n

“Only 45% of young people get a C or better in GCSE English and maths at 16. And just 4% of those who fail then go on to achieve this from 16 to 19,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Yet it is good qualifications in these key subjects that employers demand before all others – that’s why we are prioritising them.”<\/p>\n

The spokesman added: “The recruitment of specialist maths teachers, introducing phonics-based reading for six-year-olds and restoring the rigour of GCSE and A-level exams are all part of the overall package to raise participation across the board.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Visit link:
\nSchool leavers ‘lack key skills’<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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