Worrying statistics about university entrants.

[BADDOG]

A recent survey of A level students in England has revealed that although A level passes are at an all time high those 60% of students who qualify require additonal help with basic literacy and numeracy when they enter a university?

Surely this contradicts the high pass rate if people require help with basic literacy and numeracy?

Now I know this is a some what generalisation of these figures but as I worked in a Jobcentre here in England I can testify to the fact that more than half the client base I had to deal with had trouble with the same thing so how is that people are entering universitys whilst being unable to read and write correctly?

Regards a some what puzzled BD?

[Lakie]

those figures are almost always skewed.

Most of these studies are premised on 2 things

1. That people have the same capability for nueracy as they do for literacy; and

2. That everyone knows how to use computers..

Most people have their strengths and weaknesses, ask someone if they are a science or humanities person and theyll amost always have a definitivie responce, the people that would answer that question humanities for example, would have a grasp of the needed concepts of maths and the sciences, but would never have focused on them, so in a general knowledge questionaire that is designed to test even the smartest students of a given field, the humanities huy wont have a clue about the question on what a mineral is if its composition is PbS for example.

Hence the results are skewed and released into reports that says supposedly most people dont have a needed grasp of the basics..

These tests are also increasingly done on computers, computer literacy is not something to be assumed, and most people wont admit they are compter illiterate, so if its a timed test results are out...

Not saying their arent people ut there with not even a basic understanding of the basics of literacy and numeracy,but i have my doubts about the supposed secerity of the problem...

[Hellfighter]

will if a school have a high rate of student fail and goback a grade then the school look it fail, so to keep face some times they will pass a student to keep its face.

only when they get to a university or collage they see what they can do for real.

all so keep in mind some times a student leave school system for some years they for get what they learn in their daily life style. their grade avg may drop were they was higher. were the mind is not as sharp as it was before.

in the U.S we have student when they take a test their askers are not what is needed for a asker samply: LMFAO / WTF /OMG so on they break down the asker in a more semple was but not.

[Dr. Bullet]

A problem we have here in the States is a lowering of standards. The difference between a passing grade now and a passing grade 10+ years ago is amazing. Our lack of focus on education here means that since everyone is doing horribly, we have to make it easy to pass high school so we can actually have any sort of numbers passing. So just because someone has an A in high school doesn't mean they're a stellar student. Which then of course becomes a problem in uni.

[BADDOG]

Originally posted by Dr. Bullet
A problem we have here in the States is a lowering of standards. The difference between a passing grade now and a passing grade 10+ years ago is amazing. Our lack of focus on education here means that since everyone is doing horribly, we have to make it easy to pass high school so we can actually have any sort of numbers passing. So just because someone has an A in high school doesn't mean they're a stellar student. Which then of course becomes a problem in uni.

It would seem that here in Britain we are to some extent in the same mess Dr B!

Regards

[BADDOG]

Originally posted by BB/Mike*MFA*
those figures are almost always skewed.

Most of these studies are premised on 2 things

1. That people have the same capability for nueracy as they do for literacy; and

2. That everyone knows how to use computers..

Most people have their strengths and weaknesses, ask someone if they are a science or humanities person and theyll amost always have a definitivie responce, the people that would answer that question humanities for example, would have a grasp of the needed concepts of maths and the sciences, but would never have focused on them, so in a general knowledge questionaire that is designed to test even the smartest students of a given field, the humanities huy wont have a clue about the question on what a mineral is if its composition is PbS for example.

Hence the results are skewed and released into reports that says supposedly most people dont have a needed grasp of the basics..

These tests are also increasingly done on computers, computer literacy is not something to be assumed, and most people wont admit they are compter illiterate, so if its a timed test results are out...

Not saying their arent people ut there with not even a basic understanding of the basics of literacy and numeracy,but i have my doubts about the supposed secerity of the problem...

As always you make some very valid points there Mike but having seen for myself the way some younsters struggle with basic literacy and numeracy I do believe there is a real and substansial problem that needs to be dealt with soon by the Department of Education here in Britain.

Warm Regards

[-Tigger-]

common problem in my school, and theres a pattern in who has the skills of basic reading and writing and who doesnt, dont mean to offend anyone, but people who come into our school from the country (farms and outlaying areas outside of the town) seem to be the worst, while those who live inside the town have perfect skills, could it be to do with the lack of social activities that causes it?

[BADDOG]

Originally posted by BB
common problem in my school, and theres a pattern in who has the skills of basic reading and writing and who doesnt, dont mean to offend anyone, but people who come into our school from the country (farms and outlaying areas outside of the town) seem to be the worst, while those who live inside the town have perfect skills, could it be to do with the lack of social activities that causes it?

Lack of social interaction may have a bearing on some of these findings BB and of course here in England there is a very perceptible break down in discipline within many schools which may well have a strong bearing on the lack of skills needed later by some people.

Again this is some what of a generalisation but with out good order and discipline being maintained in some schools there will inevatibly be an increase in poor academic results.

Warm Regards