Breadcrumbs

Adult literacy and numeracy improving

13 July 2016

Diana Coben

Professor Diana Coben, an international expert in adult numeracy.

New Zealand’s ranking in adult literacy is now fourth in the OECD, up from 12th in 1996.

The Survey of Adult Skills released late last month shows Japan first in adult literacy followed by Finland, the Netherlands and New Zealand. We rank 13th in numeracy and sit amongst the world leaders (5th) for problem-solving using technology – a skill that’s been tested for the first time in the OECD survey.

The survey is part of the OECD's Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies survey (PIAAC).

Professor Diana Coben, Director of the National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults, based in the Faculty of Education at the University of Waikato, is encouraged by New Zealand’s results. The Centre is working on PIAAC communications with the Ministry of Education, the lead government body for PIAAC in New Zealand, under contract to the Tertiary Education Commission.

Professor Coben, a numeracy specialist, says this survey is the most comprehensive international survey of adult skills ever undertaken and while the results are good for New Zealand, there’s still room for improvement.

“Especially in adult numeracy and with native-born New Zealanders who speak English as a second language. While the faster rate of skills improvement amongst Māori and Pacific peoples is very welcome, work to redress the effect of New Zealand’s sharp ethnic differences in adult skills will continue," she says.

For the New Zealand part of the survey, more than 6000 people, New Zealand residents, aged between 16 and 65 were surveyed to assess literacy and numeracy skills and ability to solve problems in technology-rich environments. This sample included 'oversamples' of Māori, and of the 16-25 year old population in order to provide the scope for more in-depth analysis for these groups.

Here are some more of the key findings:

  • New Zealand adults’ average skills in literacy and problem solving in technology-rich environments are similar to those of Australia, and higher than those in England/Northern Ireland and the United States.
  • Literacy skills have increased for the total population since 1996 and increased at a faster rate for Māori and Pasifika since 2006.
  • In numeracy, New Zealand adults’ average skills are higher than those of Australia, Canada, England/Northern Ireland and the United States.
  • Numeracy skills have increased for Māori and Pasifika since 2006 but remained static for the total population since 1996.
  • New Zealand’s immigrant population is one of the most skilled across OECD countries.
  • At the same time, native-born New Zealanders who speak English as a second language are over-represented among adults with low proficiency.
  • The differences in skills proficiency related to age, gender, education and social background are less pronounced in New Zealand than in other countries. However, sharp ethnic differences, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples, exist in New Zealand.
  • In New Zealand, even more so than in other OECD countries, higher proficiency in literacy and numeracy has a positive impact on labour force participation and wages.
  • The relationship between literacy and levels of trust in others, political efficacy, participation in volunteer activities and self-reported health is positive and mostly in line with those observed in other OECD countries.

More information https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/survey_of_adult_skills

http://www.oecd.org/skills/piaac/surveyofadultskills.htm, including the Country Note for New Zealand at: http://www.oecd.org/skills/piaac/Skills-Matter-New-Zealand.pdf

Professor Coben is a member of the international team brought together by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) to undertake a review of PIAAC Numeracy for the OECD and earlier this month presented the results of that review at the 23rd international conference of Adults Learning Mathematics in Maynooth, Ireland.