18 May 2006

CTU welcomes new spending on literacy, numeracy, and language skills

Council of Trade Unions Secretary Carol Beaumont says that the CTU is pleased that this year's Budget has put some real money into new initiatives to address workforce issues around literacy, numeracy and language skills, with $33.5 million in funding over 4 years to improve 'foundation' skills.

"This is in addition to another $34.4 million for modern apprentices and extra funding for industry training," said Beaumont.

"It is vital that workers are supported so they can keep up with technology changes and new challenges in literacy and numeracy," Beaumont said.

"We can't build a high wage, high skill economy if lots of people can't get another chance to boost their basic skills," said Beaumont. "Eighty per cent of the 2015 workforce is already at work today and we hope this funding will help people on a path of lifelong learning."

Carol Beaumont said that there are encouraging signals that the Government could increase this funding in future Budgets.

ENDS

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