Many British adults lack basic numeracy and literacy
If that changed, the country would be much better off
Gremlins in white boiler-suits harassed Britons in the early 2000s, springing from cupboards, drawers and sofas whenever people were asked to read or add up. The critters were the stars of government tv advertisements that aimed to prod adults into signing up for lessons in maths and literacy. The adverts drove adults into classrooms—and sent toddlers screaming from living rooms. For a while regulators banned them from appearing before 7:30 at night.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “The first mile”
Britain September 24th 2022
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- The state funeral of Elizabeth II came off without a hitch
- The NHS has a lot of locums. It should listen to them
- In one British city, Black Lives Matter still reverberates
- Why prisoners are spending more time in their cells
- Many British adults lack basic numeracy and literacy
- The City is fighting to carve out a post-Brexit role
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