Reports on a new adult literacy agency in England established to advise local education authorities. (MKM)

This paper reports on the findings of a small qualitative research project that examined the experiences of a group of adult learners attending a basic skills programme in the English Midlands during the late 1990s. It explores patterns of participation on such programmes and illustrates that early life course experiences can shape changing…

Describes problems encountered by a British basic skills accreditation initiative and teacher certification program, both of which used competency-based assessment. (SK)

Reports on an English county's adult language learning program, which originated as part of a national adult literacy campaign. (RL)

The Parents and Children Enjoy Reading project in the East End of London is an adult literacy and numeracy program based on the principle that one of the strongest motivations for adults entering a basic education program is the desire to be able to help their own children learn. Volunteers work in one-on-one or group tutoring settings to offer…

This book is a collection of writing by students taking part in an adult basic education project from London and the North West of England. It illustrates ways students could think about and describe their experiences in as many ways as possible--on tape, in groups, and through writing. The writing is collected in five chapters. Chapter 1 offers…

A system was developed in the Open Learning Centres to make resources and instructional materials available to adult basic education (ABE) students. The materials were organized so that information could be provided to students to help them make choices among the items. Initially, a color coding system was devised, but it was found that it was not…

The aim of the Basic Skills at Work Program was to help improve the competence of the work force in England and Wales in basic literacy, numeracy, and communication skills. Of the 82 Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) in England and Wales, 73 participated. Surveys of basic skills requirements as perceived by local employers indicated that…

This book contains proceedings from a conference, held in Dublin, Ireland, on employment of prisoners and ex-offenders, including opening and closing addresses, papers from plenary sessions and summaries from panel sessions and workshops. The opening address, given by John O'Donoghue, is followed by "Including Prisoners and Ex-Offenders in…

This chapter presents five case histories that describe literacy education practices in rural areas of England. All programs include the use of action research and the concept of open learning. Open learning is a nontraditional approach to education that includes the use of learning centers, computers, audio- and videotapes, and distance…

In May 1993, 1,060 people in England and Wales were surveyed on the use of basic skills in everyday life. Data obtained from these questionnaires were weighted to reflect the demographic profile of the population in terms of age, gender, working status, and social class. Interviewees were asked 40 questions about activities they had done in the 7…