Industry Training Organisations Embedded Literacy and Numeracy Provision

Who applies? ITOs	Fund focus: Capability funding, Projects, Learning focus, Literacy Language and Numeracy, Workplace training, Learner focus, Adults
Status: Ongoing	Agreed through? Investment Plan (on Plan)

From 2012, ITOs will be funded through the Investment Plan 2011-2013 (Plan) to embed literacy and numeracy in an increasing proportion of NZQF Levels 1-3¹ provision as part of ‘business as usual’.

Embedded literacy and numeracy investment is based on the proportion of STMs at NZQF Levels 1 to 3 with embedded literacy and numeracy and the proportion of Level 1 to 3 STMs within Level 4 NZQF programmes. This proportion will be monitored through the Industry Training Register (ITR). Funding is allocated in proportion to the percentage of STMs above a 10% threshold, based on funding year projections made by ITOs in their agreed Mix of Provision and subject to available funding.

ELN funding = Rate² ($/STM) x Funded³ STMs

Any organisation that receives funding must abide by a number of rules and conditions.

ITOs are expected to set performance commitments regarding STMs that include embedded literacy and numeracy at Levels 1-3, and the percentage of Level 1-3 STMs with embedded literacy and numeracy.

Access to Industry Training Embedded Literacy and Numeracy project funding will be considered in accordance with government policy, (as directed by the Minister’s determination under section 159L of the Education Act 1989), the Tertiary Education Strategy and in response to performance.

For funding purposes, trainees whose skills fall within the Learning Progressions who enrol in a new NZQF Level 1 - 3 embedded programme in 2011 must be assessed with the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment tool, or the Starting Points Assessment Guide for those trainees not yet at Step 1 of the literary Learning Progressions, as per Rule ITO007[1].

Trainees must be assessed at or near the start of their programme and at or near the end of their programme. For multi year programmes it is preferable but not compulsory for learners to be assessed in one of the intervening years.

This will enable assessments to be made, over time, of the return on the Government’s investment across the tertiary education sector. Enhancements have been made to the Assessment tool to improve functionality, and further enhancements are under consideration. Evidence of learners improving their literacy and numeracy skills as measured by the Assessment tool will be considered as part of measuring performance in the future.

¹ Levels 1 to 3 provision includes the proportion of Level 4 programmes that include Level 1to 3 STMs.

² Rate ($/STM) is set annually based on the Industry Training ELN fund allocation divided by the total number of STMs with embedded literacy and numeracy, as identified in ITO Plan mix of provisions.

³ Funded STMs =Eligible ELN STMs from the ITO Plan mix of provision less the threshold level.

• [1]

  Rule ITO007: ELN funding delivery requirements

  Embedded Literacy and Numeracy (ELN) funding is to be used to improve literacy and numeracy through, but not limited to, the following actions. All industry training organisations (ITOs) receiving ELN funding must undertake all these activities:

  • Identify literacy and numeracy skills that are required by trainees within the ITO’s recognised industry
  • Identify and arrange for any changes to the arrangements for industry training that may be needed to include the explicit learning of literacy and numeracy skills required by trainees within the ITO’s recognised industry or industries
  • Develop and maintain a robust long-term strategy to increase the amount of industry training with embedded literacy and numeracy that is delivered within the ITO’s recognised industry or industries.

  ITOs must track trainees' literacy and numeracy progress over time, as follows:

  • If trainees have been pre-assessed on another tool in 2010, they can be post-assessed with that tool in 2011
  • For funding purposes, trainees whose skills fall within the Learning Progressions who enrol in a new New Zealand Qualifications Framework Level 1 - 3 embedded programme in 2011 must be assessed with the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment tool:
    • Each learner must be assessed against at least one strand of the Learning Progressions, selected from either the reading or the numeracy strand
    • Followup assessments must be against the same strand(s) as the initial assessment.
  • Trainees not yet at Step 1 of the literary Learning Progressions must be assessed against the Starting Points Assessment Guide
  • Any use of other assessment tools will not be valid for TEC funding purposes in 2012 and beyond.