The next step in the Scottish Government's campaign to improve adult literacy and numeracy will be launched next month, when a national survey will be conducted to measure adult literacy and numeracy levels.

This latest move will establish the current general levels of the population - a baseline against which to measure the success of future initiatives to improve literacy and numeracy in Scotland. It will also provide the information required to measure progress on the National Indictor 'to reduce the number of working age people with severe literacy and numeracy problems' (national indicator number 12).

The survey is the latest in package of measures to improve literacy and numeracy, including:

The development of Curriculum for Excellence, through which the Scottish Government is placing literacy and numeracy at the heart of education
Work to improve literacy and numeracy levels by raising awareness of the support available through the Big Plus campaign
Ensuring work-related training which includes literacy and numeracy is eligible for funding through Individual Learning Accounts
Allocating funding to local authorities for Adult Literacy and Numeracy provision as part of the local government finance settlement.
The Scottish Adult Literary and Numeracy Survey, to be conducted by a consortium led by the University of Glasgow, will help provide the necessary information to build on that work.

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