Do the maths

[richie268]

The OECD Interational Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), conducted in 1995, found that 25% of the Irish adult population were at Level 1 - the lowest of the five literacy levels. This figure equates to 500,000 adults who have a significant literacy difficulty. There has been no national or international adult literacy survey in Ireland since IALS. There was a commitment in the White Paper on Adult Education Learning for Life (4.4.7 Monitoring Impact page 93) to carry out a national adult literacy survey in 2003 and at regular intervals thereafter

literacy.ie

SOME 40 per cent of Irish people have difficulty with everyday maths calculations, according to research published today

40% of Irish have difficulty with numeracy - The Irish Times - Mon, Sep 06, 2010

Cannot blame the latter on the Brits.

[cry freedom]

Towards the smart economy, eh?

[richie268]

Towards the smart economy, eh?

Yep, and wait for a while and government will announce a research and development tax credit.

[orbit]

I wonder about the methodology used in these surveys. Like, do they just phone people up at random, or approach them on the street. How much attention do people give to the answers? Could that be related to socio-economic background as well? Did participants have to do the arithmetic question in their heads, or could they use a pen and paper?

One question was to judge how much petrol was left in a tank, by looking at a petrol gauge, and apparently 27% didn't get it right. Does this mean that one in four people are in danger of running out of petrol in their cars?

Without knowing exactly how it was done, I'd be slightly sceptical.

[richie268]

Researchers asked 1,000 adults two maths questions taken from the primary school curriculum, and also presented them with four basic calculations which people would be required to do on a daily basis. Four out of 10 of those surveyed got half or all of the questions wrong.
I am not 100% in relation to the methodology in relation to reading gauge but I think people in the study are asked to read the instructions from a medicine bottle or the likes.
Anyway roll on Research and Development finance ,
As The poster cry freedom says above "Towards the smart economy, eh?"

[cry freedom]

Yep, and wait for a while and government will announce a research and development tax credit.

I was in a small filling station at the weekend buying marked diesel oil.
I asked for a receipt with the vat shown separately as my accountant goes ape if I bring one to him with only the vat inclusive price.
The young lad behind the counter, who must have been at least 18 or 19,
didn't have a clue how to go about doing the calculation.
Do maths teachers ever teach anything that is practical?
And judging by the response to this thread most posters couldn't give a toss about the problem either.
They are far more interested in throwing eggs at Tony Blair, or some such nonsense, than the state of the nation's numeracy.

[Thac0man]

Liked Ray Darcys comment this morning on the radio;

4 in 10 adults are having a problem with math, thats nearly 30 percent.

[de other fella]

Liked Ray Darcys comment this morning on the radio;


4 in 10 adults are having a problem with math, thats nearly 30 percent.

God Bless the Department of Edukashun and Skillz
Knowledge Economy Indeed

[Victor Meldrew]

Maths is taught appallingly and in a way too abstract manner to ensure we impart basic numeracy.

40% bordering on functionally innumerate and 25% with literacy issues. perfect for getting them wither not to vote or vote FF.

[Wakeupcall]

It must be them voting for FF!