📰 Adult Literacy News Summary

Measuring Learning Outcomes in Literacy and Basic Skills - RAMAED

14-Nov-2025 - Africa

Initiated by UIL at the request of French-speaking African countries, the RAMAED (literacy component) aims to support participating countries in setting up a system for monitoring and evaluating the quality of literacy provision. Specifically, the aim is to use standardised instruments, translated and adapted into the national languages selected by the participating countries, to assess the performance of the beneficiaries of literacy programmes - young people and adults aged 15 and over - in the areas of literacy, numeracy and life skills.

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Thousands of Staffordshire adults supported with Community Learning

12-Nov-2025 - UK

More than 6,000 Staffordshire residents have benefited from adult education and skills programmes over the past year. Staffordshire County Council’s Community Learning service, which helps adults who face barriers to accessing mainstream education, has enabled residents to build their confidence, improve wellbeing and progress towards employment and further learning.

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Teacher's worst fears confirmed when struggling students suddenly started submitting A-grade papers

11-Nov-2025 - USA

A Los Angeles high school English teacher's routine grading session took a shocking turn when his lowest-performing students began turning in flawless A-grade essays - all at once. The culprit wasn't an underground website or a secret group chat but Google Lens, a tool embedded directly into every student's school-issued Chromebook. Students simply hover over a test or essay question and instantly receive AI-generated answers - all without switching tabs or typing a single word.

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Bedford literacy charity pledges 1.5 million reading sessions to inspire a nation of readers

11-Nov-2025 - UK

Children’s enjoyment of reading has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, with just one in three choosing to read for pleasure, according to a Bedford-based charity that is now taking on the challenge to turn the page on what they say is a worrying trend. Schoolreaders, the UK’s largest in-school child literacy charity, has pledged to deliver 1.5 million one-to-one reading sessions in primary schools across England by the end of 2026, a 50 per cent increase on last year’s record-breaking total.

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North East charity tackling adult literacy crisis as new branches set to launch in Northumberland

07-Nov-2025 - UK

A North East charity is taking action to tackle an adult literacy crisis, with new Read Easy groups set to open in Northumberland to add to other parts of the region. The expansion comes as recent research from the North East Chamber of Commerce revealed that 23% of adults in the region struggle with functional literacy. Read Easy Newcastle and North Tyneside now have more than 40 volunteers and 25 active readers, Gateshead and South Tyneside groups are up and running and Northumberland is in the process of launching and actively recruiting new volunteers.

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BBC 500 Words welcomes new celebrity judge Rose Ayling-Ellis

07-Nov-2025 - UK

The UK’s most successful children’s writing competition, BBC 500 Words has added a 6th judge to its panel of celebrity judges – actor and children’s author Rose Ayling-Ellis, who brings fresh perspective and inspiration to the competition that celebrates creativity in all its forms. Rose joins an already star-studded panel including Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Sir Lenny Henry, Charlie Higson, and Francesca Simon, with Alex Jones returning as chair.

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New national curriculum’s skills agenda starts to bring England in line with world-leading education systems

07-Nov-2025 - UK

Proposed changes to England’s national curriculum aim to ensure it is fit for the future, writes Professor Becky Francis in her introduction to the final report of the government’s independent curriculum review. The panel that conducted the review sought to address the “rich knowledge and skills young people need to thrive in our fast-changing world”.

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Reform UK mayor’s ESOL cuts not catching on – yet

07-Nov-2025 - UK

A Reform UK mayor’s plans to ditch ESOL courses because they don’t benefit “native” residents have not yet been copied elsewhere in England, an FE Week investigation has found. Last month, Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns announced her intention to redirect about £1 million in funding spent on English for speakers of other languages courses towards a more “inclusive” literacy and numeracy programme

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Somerset man who recently learned to read tours Parliament

06-Nov-2025 - UK

A Somerset man who learned to read as an adult recently toured the Houses of Parliament. Thomas Greenwell, 41, completed a two-year adult reading programme through Read Easy at Williton Library, supported by his tutor Penny. He was invited to the parliamentary visit by Rachel Gilmour, the Liberal Democrat MP for Minehead and Tiverton, who learned of his achievement through local news coverage

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Lancashire partnership opens doors to lifelong learning through local libraries

05-Nov-2025 - UK

Lancashire Adult Learning has won the ‘Healthier Futures’ Award at the Get the Nation Learning Awards this year for its success in improving the health of Lancashire residents through bespoke learning provision. Through partnerships with Public Health, Primary Care Networks and Social Prescribers, Lancashire Adult Learning has engaged over 10,000 learners in around 300 community venues

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