Agriculture ITO leads literacy project

MEDIA RELEASE

3 September 2009

Agriculture ITO leads literacy project

With pressure on all economic sectors to improve workforce productivity, skill levels and applying learning in the workplace are being recognised as increasingly important. Agriculture ITO is leading a new project to improve literacy in the rural workforce, starting with the wool-handling industry.

Literacy is one of the clearest pathways to improving productivity. A Canadian study found productivity gains of 2.5%, and a 1.5% rise in GDP per head were linked to a 1% rise in literacy, relative to international averages.

In New Zealand, a workplace literacy group estimates four out of ten people in the workforce have literacy and numeracy issues that may impact their ability to do their jobs.

For agriculture, New Zealand’s dominant economic sector, the rate is likely to be even higher, at 48% – or nearly half.*

To reduce literacy as a barrier to learning and productive workplace practice, the Agriculture Industry Training Organisation (ITO) is leading a $455,000 project, funded by the Tertiary Education Commission, aimed at improving training delivery in the shearing and wool handling industries.

“It’s not just a matter of addressing reading levels, though that is part of it,” said Tracey Shepherd, Agriculture ITO’s General Manager of Policy.

“Literacy and numeracy can cover a range of issues, from genuine low literacy and numeracy levels through to having the right skill level to keep pace with changing technology. It affects the full spectrum of roles in this industry as well, from employers to young people just getting started.”

Ms Shepherd said the success of the project would be measured by improved qualification completions – as written content and assignments often discourage people with literacy and numeracy skill issues from continuing with their study – and a lift in numeracy and literacy skills.

“The outcomes in the workplace will be improved productivity – fewer mistakes, less waste, more efficient use of time and other resources.”

The project will develop strategies and a model to embed numeracy and literacy learning in teaching and resources, Ms Shepherd said, which can then be applied to learning programmes in other agriculture industries.

Agriculture ITO is the leader in vocational education for agriculture, with over 10,000 people enrolled annually for national qualifications it manages in the dairy, sheep, cattle, deer, poultry and pork industries.

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