1. Learning Inequality: Skills for Life, Work & Citizenship Professor Bob Fryer CBE National Director Widening Participation in Learning Department of Health Bob.Fryer@dh.gsi.gov.uk www.wideningparticipation.nhs.uk

2. Why do these skills matter? For the Individual, and his or her Family For Employers, and Competitiveness For the Community, and Citizenship For the country at large, in terms of ‘the kind of society’ we want to be

3. So, why not call it ‘basic skills’? Because, the one thing that people have in abundance, but who are said to ‘lack’ them is exactly basic skills!! Not least of which, they have survived despite some difficulties with words and numbers!

4. The Personal Case  Self-confidence & self-esteem  Personal dignity & morale  Health & well-being, including inter-generational health  ‘Essential skills’ for any independent, functioning individual in contemporary world  Ability to help others  Equal opportunities & choice  Participation in & contribution to ‘civil society’  Current job & future ‘employability’ & work ‘career’

5. The Employers’ Case 1) The moral case, duty of care & community responsibility 2) Job effectiveness & future ‘employability’ & work ‘career’ 3) Underpinning, ‘core’ skills for other skills’ development & progression 4) Recruitment, retention & productivity 5) Health, safety & operating efficiency 6) Motivation & commitment 7) Flexibility, adaptability & responsiveness 8) Team working, problem solving and multi-skilling 9) ‘Customer care’ & relationships

6. British Adult Literacy Levels: Prose, Documents & Quantification (IALS)

7. Literacy & numeracy by age group, general population and health & social care compared

8. Current UK adult participation in learning & future intentions 2007, by social class

9. Current or recent participation in adult learning 1996-2007 by social class Source Niace 2007

10. UK Employees Receiving Job-related Training in Last Month by Occupation & Location of Training Source: DfES

11. Discovering the ‘hidden treasure’ in us all "None of the talents which are hidden like buried treasure in every person must be left untapped …memory, reasoning power, imagination, physical ability, aesthetic sense, the aptitude to communicate with others and the natural charisma of the group leader, which again goes to improve the need for greater self-knowledge." Jacques Delors, UNESCO, 1997