In October, 2013 the Program for the International
Assessment of Adult Literacy Competencies (PIAAC) was released by the Australian
Bureau of Statistics. This was done in line with the OECD 2013 report. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4228.0Main+Features12011-12?OpenDocument
Note the data was collected
in 2011-2012.
Earlier this year initial data indicated 44% or
7.3. million Australian adults has non functional literacy.
Below is some of the other significant data to
consider.
The PIAAC measured across 3 domains
1. Literacy.
2. Numeracy.
3. Problem
solving in technology-rich environments.
As these are slightly different domains compared
with the 2 previous studies in 1996 and 2007 direct comparisons need to be carefully
considered. In addition this survey data was collated in 6 skill levels;
Level 5 - through to Below Level 1.
Level 5 is high attainment of complex multi level documents
and information, Level 4 and 3 at functional and skilled abilities.
Level 2, Level 1 and Below level 1 are skill levels
which are non functional level.
Literacy
The new data 44% or 7.3 million adults Australians have
non functional literacy.
Critically, 13.7% or 1.4 million adult
Australians are at Skill1 level 1 or below skill level 1.
Proportion
at each literacy level—2011–12
Numeracy
Functional skills in numeracy require a range of
knowledge and abilities also.
For example, “Tasks from level 2 include a range of
common contexts where maths content is fairly explicit or visual...... Involves
calculating with whole numbers and common decimals, per cents and fractions;
simple measurement and spatial representation; estimation; and interpretation
of relatively simple data and statistics in texts, tables and graphs.”
From Appendix Scores and Skill Levels. Calculation
of Scores www.ABS.gov.au #4228
53.5% or 11.7 million adult Australians do not have the skills in numeracy to be
able to complete Level 2 tasks, or below, rating them as being non-functional in
numeracy.
This is extremely crucial for all information in Health Literacy,
Financial Literacy and many other day to day activities.
Proportion
at each numeracy level—2011–12
Look out for my future blogs here on
Problem solving in technology-rich
environments
The influence of
1. Age
2. Culture and place of birth (Australia or other
countries)
3. Education
4. Labour force status.
Cathy
0466 579 855
Reference note: Graphs and data from PIAAC report. at http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4228.0Main+Features12011-12?OpenDocument
