Schools system letting us down, says CBI

A report by the Confederation of British Industry claims that firms are having to recruit from abroad because of the poor literacy and numeracy skills of school leavers. While employers complain of having to spend money on remedial lessons, examiners say the year on year rise in A level and GCSE pass rates and the proportion gaining top grades reflect higher achievement and not a lowering of standards

The CBI has said that the 'dire' quality of school-leavers is putting science-based industries at risk. The business group spoke out to warn that teenagers have been put off science subjects because of a stripped-down science curriculum, a lack of specialist teachers and lacklustre careers advice. CBI members have warned that the science base is being eroded just as competition from India and China is hotting up. Employers are increasingly worried about the long-term decline in the numbers studying A level and university science subjects. The report said that poor standards are costing the economy £10 billion a year.

(Telegraph, 14 August 2006)