15m offered free skills training

The 15million adults who lack basic literacy and numeracy skills are to be offered free reading and writing classes under new government plans.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly was announcing today that every adult in the country will be eligible for vocational training to the equivalent of five good GCSEs.

Ms Kelly's proposals, outlined in a White Paper on Skills, will also promise joint public-private schemes to fund more advanced IT, plumbing and other courses to A-level standard.

A new nationwide network of Skills Academies will be created in alliance with employers to provide over-16s with a more vocational education.

Ms Kelly said that the Government had made progress in recent years, with the number of adults qualified to GCSE equivalent up from 65 per cent in 1997 to nearly 72 per cent in 2004.

The percentage of the workforce educated to A-level equivalent is up from

43.1 per cent in 1997 to 50.8 per cent of the workforce now (11.8 million people).

But ministers admit that too many adults lack basic skills in literacy and numeracy and, crucially, in the more advanced technical qualifications the economy needs to compete with America, Europe and China. An estimated 15 million-adults lack basic skills in numeracy and five million lack basic literacy skills, but the cost of night classes or training puts many off getting the qualifications they need.

Under the plans being announced today, adults with no qualifications will be eligible for free basic skills and vocational training to the equivalent of five A-C grades at GCSE level.

The move follows two successful pilot schemes that helped 130,000 low-skilled adults get training either in their workplace or at their local college.

The Department for Education and Skills claims that by 2012 there will be a need for two thirds of jobs to be filled by people with skills at A-level equivalent or higher.

"The productivity gap with Britain's competitors is narrowing, but up to 20 per cent of the gap with France and Germany can be attributed to skills. With the right skills, individuals can realise their potential and build a better life for themselves and employers can run successful, competitive businesses," a government source said.

The plan is for the new moves to build on recently announced reforms education and training for 14- to 19-year-olds.

Ms Kelly last month unveiled plans to make teaching more practical and relevant to those pupils who were less academic, with many being offered the chance to learn in the workplace from as young as 14.

Today's White Paper is expected to reveal that the Skills Academies will be national centres of excellence for the post-16 sector. They will deliver a tailormade curriculum for young people and adults, working closely with schools and colleges.