Gail Rebuck on adult literacy

Adult literacy is a stubborn, apparently intractable problem that belies simplistic solutions. The government has spent £5bn on basic skills courses between 2001 and 2007, which will rise to £9bn by 2011. This money has had an effect and progress has been made: the Skills for Life target to improve the skills of 2.25 million adults by 2010 was reached two years early.

But, as last week's all-party public accounts committee report into adult ... Full Story »