Click here to read Ako Aotearoa’s full submission
Ako Aotearoa is calling on the government to break the cycle of disadvantage for learners with language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) needs.
The Productivity Commission's inquiry A fair chance for all: Breaking the disadvantage cycle aims "to investigate the dynamics and drivers of persistent disadvantage and to make recommendations to help break or mitigate the cycle of disadvantage within people’s lifetimes and across generations."
Ako Aotearoa's submission to the Productivity Commission describes how low LLN skills lead to people being left behind as the skills gap widens. We discuss how effective national policy can help break the cycle of disadvantage and remove barriers to social and economic wellbeing.
“Low LLN skills have far-reaching, and often lifelong, impacts on a person’s social and economic wellbeing, often extending across generations. This includes outcomes related to education, employment, health, social inclusion, social trust, political efficacy and civic engagement.”
“In the workplace, the constant demand for higher skills across industries, fuelled by advances in technology, poses significant challenges for people with LLN needs.”
But better policy can facilitate effective and inclusive lifelong learning, remove barriers to participation, and facilitate better resourcing for organisations already working to improve the lives of learners.
We propose for policy to be centred on the following measures:
- An adult LLN Implementation Strategy
- Evidence-based teaching approaches
- LLN support through Response-to Intervention
- Teacher training and professional development
- Culturally responsive pedagogies
- Inclusive teaching and learning environments
- Research
- Resourcing
Read more in the full submission.