9 Jul 2014

Hui on literacy and numeracy for adults

10:57 am on 9 July 2014

An academic lecturer says more work is needed to improve adult literacy and numeracy for tangata whenua.

The National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults is holding its annual hui on Wednesday, with an emphasis on how to better engage with Maori and Pasifika students.

According to a 2006 survey, 43 percent of people aged between 16 and 65 fall below expected levels of literacy and numeracy.

A Maori facilitator for the centre, Herewini Easton, said evidence showed there are Maori adults unable to read policies and legal documents in their workplace, and that was disheartening to hear.

But he said the numbers were improving, although there was always more work to do, and one way was to ensure educators had a holistic approach to their teaching.

Mr Easton said there has been an increasing presence of Maori at the annual hui.