Fears over adult numeracy skills

A NEW study is calling for a radical overhaul of adult numeracy amid concerns that poor maths skills are costing the economy £2.4 billion each year.

Poor numeracy skills have a "devastating" effect on many people's lives, yet there is still a widespread attitude that being bad at maths is a "badge of honour", according to the National Institute of Adults Continuing Education (NIACE).

Publishing the NIACE-led independent inquiry into numeracy, the institute is calling for a "cultural shift in attitudes" to boost the numeracy skills of adults. People who reach adulthood with poor numeracy skills are more than twice as likely to be unemployed, the report said.