What? We
invented the language for heaven's sake.
And if a child cannot read well by the age of 11, the negative impact on their attainment lasts for the rest of their lives.
I hope they are more numerate. Well just, 22nd out of 23.
These statistics are appalling and frightening; our education system, once the envy of - and copied around - the world has been so starved of interest, investment and innovation by policy makers that our young people now rank below every other developed country. No wonder young
Europeans (many of whom come here to improve their English language skills) fill the jobs in hospitality, retail and the service sector that UK youngsters can't. And then they moan that there are no jobs.
As business owners we know this problem all too well; even some graduates struggle to spell correctly and write well-constructed English.
Which got me thinking. For business owners and those wanting to start their own business there are two essential skills they must acquire: getting customers and knowing their numbers. The former necessitates communicating in clear and concise terms - copywriting - with prospects (literacy) and the latter requires an understanding of the relationship between numbers (numeracy).
And the next generation of UK business leaders and owners are just about the worst there are at both in the world.
Should you worry? Well I am.
Shocked and horrified.
Noel Guilford