Investigating the impact of mathematical skills development provided to manufacturing staff by Optimum Learning Technologies.

Abstract

ABSRACT Although there has been a considerable amount of research relating measures of schooling years, qualifications, or training spells to workers' labour market success, there has been very little assessment of the role of more basic literacy and numeracy skills, largely due to problems with measurement and data availability. Yet it is obviously crucial, in an era of apparently rising demand for skills, that we have evi- dence on the labour market value of the full range of worker skills, including basic literacy and numera Although there has been a considerable amount of research relating to measures of schooling years, qualifications, or training spells to workers' labour market success, there has been very little assessment of the role of more basic literacy and numeracy skills, largely due to problems with measurement and data availability. Yet it is obviously crucial, in an era of apparently rising demand for skills, that we have evidence on the labour market value of the full range of worker skills, including basic literacy and numeracy. The study was conducted to Investigating the impact of mathematical skills development provided to manufacturing staff by Optimum Learning Technologies. The research took a quantitative approach by which a probability sampling was done using stratified random sampling method to select the samples. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that although the numeracy skills are adapted to specific strategies for each industry, they tend to be based on an underpinning of skills developed through a range of prior learning experiences and, in many cases, transferred between workplaces and life situations. Numeracy is not a skill or fixed entity that can be earned. Instead, people’s skills are situated along a continuum of different purposes and levels of accomplishment with numbers. There is need for senior management to show commitment for the programme, monitoring and evaluation of the programme, strengthening communication, creating a learning culture among employees as well as providing incentives for participating in the programme. Keywords: Numeracy; Optimum Learning Technologies; Mathematical skills; manufacturing employees.