Summary of draft TEC Literacy and Numeracy
Implementation Strategy and Key Questions for Feedback
Background to Literacy and Numeracy
Work on addressing New Zealand’s adult literacy and numeracy needs started
in 2001 with the publication of the New Zealand Adult Literacy Strategy.
Successive governments have recognised that a significant proportion of
adults have literacy and numeracy skills below that which are considered
necessary to participate fully in a modern, high-skilled economy.
Literacy and numeracy is a priority in the Tertiary Education Strategy 2010-15,
particularly raising the skills of learners in levels one to three courses.
In recent years, the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has received
significant government funding, enabling it to invest in both the development
of a high quality national infrastructure to support educators and directly in
delivery to learners through a range of funds and grants.
These
developments are now well-established and the need to invest in them in the
future is reducing.
This means it is timely to establish a strategic direction for the TEC’s work in
adult literacy and numeracy that prioritises interventions within the current
levels of funding.
What is this Implementation Strategy?
The draft Strategy sets out a strategic direction for the TEC’s implementation
of work in the area of adult literacy and numeracy. It describes:
why the TEC continues to invest in adult literacy and numeracy
interventions;
the existing and proposed work streams which TEC is involved in;
the proposed strategic directions for each work stream; and
the proposed strategic directions for existing initiatives.
The Strategy is not a whole-of-government strategy and does not supersede
the current directions set in the Tertiary Education Strategy 2010-15.
In some respects, the proposed directions of the work streams and initiatives
continue the current approach, especially where interventions are wellestablished and working well. However, some of the directions proposed in
the Strategy are significant.
Summary of Strategy content
The Strategy is structured as follows: the first section gives an overview of the
key workstreams, and then further sections give more detail about each
workstream and programme as well as proposed future steps and directions.
The draft Strategy groups the TEC’s existing initiatives into three work
streams and proposes establishing two new work streams:
1. Educational infrastructure to support provision, which includes the teaching
learning resources, such as the Assessment Tool, Pathways Awarua and the
Learning Progressions (the standardised framework of literacy and numeracy
skills);
2. Learning opportunities for adult New Zealanders, which includes the funds for
provision and the work of the Learning Representatives programme to
encourage participation in provision; and
3. Professional development of the sector, which includes the work of the
National Centre of Adult Literacy and Numeracy (the Centre) and the
qualifications framework for literacy and numeracy educators.
4. Addressing Māori and Pasifika needs, allows for a targeted work programme
to explicitly address the needs of Māori and Pasifika learners and educators.
5. Cross-government engagement, which would continue the TEC’s commitment
to working closely and collaboratively with other government agencies with
literacy and numeracy responsibilities and interests.
Key questions for feedback
The TEC welcomes stakeholder feedback to the Adult Literacy and Numeracy
Implementation Strategy. The following questions focus on key areas of
interest. We would like your feedback on the following:
1. The suggested directions and ‘next steps’ proposed in each workstream
and initiative.
2. The TEC has prioritised the following areas for particular action
immediately (Assessment Tool, National Centre, Pathways Awarua, and
Maori-Pasifika). Do you have suggestions to add to the Strategy’s
proposed next steps, and on how the TEC can implement these
suggestions?
We also welcome your general comments, ideas, and suggestions on the
Strategy generally.
Feedback
Please email your feedback to servicecentre@tec.govt.nz with the subject
line 'LN Strategy Feedback' by 2 July 2012. If you have any questions about
the Strategy itself, please email David Do, Advisor, Literacy and Numeracy, at
david.do@tec.govt.nz