Bag's Rants

It's all working OK now. So don't worry.

Research at Cambridge University has shown that today's teenagers are moe literate than ten years ago. Read the story here.

What! That contradicts everything we have been reading about over the last five years from the Government, employers, schools and what you see in real life. What is going on?

Looking at the news article seems to indicate that this global pronouncement is based on one year, 2004, sampled with 1994. 1994's samples being considered a downward trend from 1980.

Plus, these results seem to be from the cream as the pupils that produced them are still in sixth form and going on to University. Employers have not yet seen the impact. Now, I don't know what percentage that is but reality tells me that if the whole year had shown improvement then most of them would be on the job market now. And probably being head hunted by employers.

So, I am drawn to the conclusion that the increase since 1994 must be a small one and still lagging behind the highs of the 1980's. 1994 must have been a really poor year for employers.

So, all in all, still goes to show you can prove anything with a bit of applied research, not publishing details and making general sweeping statements.

Was the report done by one of our 1994 subjects?

posted by Bag @ 9:19 am