Increasing the literacy, language and numeracy skills of the workforce is a key government priority as described in the New Zealand Adult Literacy Strategy.“Literacy, language and numeracy skills provide the essential base for building competitive, high-skilled and productive workforce.”
                                                                                                                 – Tertiary Education Commission

TEC Literacy, Language and Numeracy Action Plan



ESITO Literacy Strategy 2006- 2011

“A three-pronged approach to address the literacy and numeracy needs of ESITO trainees.”

• Identify the literacy, language and numeracy demands of our qualifications and provide a profile to Industry
• Embed literacy, language and numeracy into the learning cycle
• Address literacy, language and numeracy capability for Industry trainers, providers and ESITO, and offer up sustainable support programmes. 

November 2010 Update

Follow this link for a literacy and numeracy snapshot of ESITO’s programme to date.

All ESITO trainees to do literacy and numeracy assessments from 2011
From 2011, the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) expects ITOs to embed literacy and numeracy – not on a project basis, but as business as usual. In line with this, from January, all ESITO trainees will complete the commission’s online adult literacy and numeracy assessment when signing up and exiting a qualification. This will enable changes in skill levels to be tracked.

Resource development - new trainee assessment packs
Literacy and numeracy considerations were to the fore in the redevelopment of ESITO’s Trainee Assessment Pack, recently released. Improved features of the pack include plain English instructions, larger font size and more white space. The use of icons and other design features aim to make the packs easier to use.

Managing Literacy and Numeracy in Your Workplace (Half-day workshop )
To find out about the workshop, go to the Professional Development Programme page. To read about the success of the workshop, follow this link.

Government funded literacy and numeracy programmes available for employees
Please refer to Previous Updates below and look for May 2009 Update.

Reviewing workplace documents - Northpower Case Study
Have you wondered if there are some straightforward things that could be done to workplace documents so that staff can read and complete them more accurately?

Follow this link to read a case study on how Northpower, Workbase and ESITO worked together to review workplace documentation. The case study includes a resource that will help you work through a similar review process. It can be used as a good practice guide as well as an in-house training tool.

If you would like to engage external trainers, as Northpower did, ESITO can refer you to experienced providers. Once you’ve read the case study, contact Kate Duggan on kated@esito.org.nz for further information.

Pilot Project
2006-2008 Embedded Foundation Learning
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Previous Updates
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To access a flowchart that better illustrates ESITO's commitment to its industry trainees download the file below

ESITO Embedded Literacy Flowchart
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July 2008 – 30 May 2010: ITO Embedded Literacy and Numeracy Project

ESITO has now entered into a two-year, TEC-funded project that is the continuation and expansion of the Embedded Foundation Learning Pilot. While the objectives of this project have not changed from the pilot, there is a greater emphasis upon building the capability of industry trainers and ESITO.

Target Group

Line Mechanic Trainees – Distribution
Line Mechanic Trainees – Transmission
Cable Jointer Trainees

ESITO proposes to integrate a simple literacy, language and numeracy assessment into our induction process. The purpose is to develop a database of the training needs of all new trainees so that we can work with on and off job trainers to establish interventions that best support trainees.

The information we gather will be strictly confidential between the trainee and ESITO. It will simply provide a focus for any additional support the trainee may require in order to achieve qualification requirements, and to function and operate in a safe manner within the work place.

ESITO will continue to work with Utilitech trainers, mentoring and supporting their professional development and capability building. We also hope to work with other providers within the target group.