Firms spend millions sending recruits to remedial classes to learn the 3Rs because education standards are too low

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Firms spend millions sending recruits to remedial classes to learn the 3Rs because education standards are too low

June 11th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Laura Clark

PUBLISHED:

18:34 EST, 10 June 2012

|

UPDATED:

18:34 EST, 10 June 2012

School-leavers have to be given remedial training in the three Rs when they start work because education standards are too low

Thousands of school-leavers have to be given remedial training in the three Rs when they start work because education standards are too low, a survey revealed today.

Firms are forced to spend millions of pounds on basic skills classes in an attempt to ‘compensate for earlier failings in the education system’, according to a survey of more than 500 bosses.

Some 42 per cent have been forced to offer remedial training to school-leavers over the past year, mainly in English and maths.

As well as lacking basic mastery of
the three Rs, many school-leavers lack employability skills such as
managing their own time, taking responsibility and holding a
conversation, according to the survey by the CBI, the main business
lobby group.

The extent of
bosses’ dissatisfaction with new applicants is unchanged on a decade ago
even though billions have been poured into the education system.

The
report, based on a survey of 542 firms employing 1.6million people,
said: ‘It is a major cause for concern that one child in three leaves
primary school without reaching expected standards in reading, writing
and maths combined.

‘Unless youngsters make sustained progress in all three of these during their time in primary education, they face major difficulties subsequently in their schooling – and potentially in their working lives.

‘The UK can ill afford to have young people leaving compulsory education with inadequate literacy and numeracy – and for the young people concerned the weakness represents a major handicap at the start of their working lives.’

Many firms prefer to recruit non-UK nationals despite rising UK unemployment because many jobless Britons lack ‘essential competencies’, it emerged.

More than 300,000 teenagers failed to make the grade in maths last year, and more than 200,000 in English

Despite ‘tough’ conditions in the job market, 35 per cent of firms reported a lack of applications for some level of vacancy.

The need for youngsters to be given a proper grounding at school was becoming ever more acute since jobs requiring only low skills were drying up, according to the report, produced in conjunction with Pearson Education.

High-level skills, such as leadership and management, were in increasing demand.

But more than 300,000 teenagers failed to make the grade in maths last year, and more than 200,000 in English.

Even university graduates sometimes display poor literacy and numeracy skills, it emerged.

‘It would be a travesty to pretend that youth unemployment is the fault of schools.’

Chris Keates

More than a quarter of firms (26 per cent) have laid on remedial classes for graduates in at least one area over the past 12 months. Some six per cent of businesses had to offer classes in literacy.

Universities must ‘up their game’, the report said.

‘Too many employers are reporting worrying shortfalls among graduates – some in core areas of schooling while others are in those skills areas where higher education should help students develop,’ it added.

There is also mounting concern over basic skills held by workforce in general because of the ‘growing complexity’ of jobs. There is some evidence that maths skills among British adults may actually be worsening, the report said.

This leaves some employees unable to carry out basic tasks such as estimating materials needed or calculating a discount.

But many bosses complained there was currently no single qualification which addressed the combination of reading, maths and employability requirements.

Some schools are letting their pupils down by failing to promote work experience. Some 15 per cent of firms – more than one in seven – said a lack of interest among schools and college was a barrier to them offering teenagers work experience.

In other findings, more than two thirds of large firms are planning to boost recruitment of good A-level students amid fears that this autumn’s tuition fee hike to £9,000-a-year will put them off university.

CBI director general John Cridland said: ‘There is nothing more important to the future economic success of our country, and the lives of young people, than education.

‘But levels of educational attainment are rising fast in many leading and emerging economies, so in the UK we must ensure that our education and skills system can continue to compete at the cutting edge.’

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: ‘We are toughening up exams, teaching and the curriculum so all young people have the essential English, maths and science skills they need.’

Chris Keates, of the NASUWT teaching union, said: ‘It would be a travesty to pretend that youth unemployment is the fault of schools.’