Poor spelling and grammar ‘costs students jobs’
A lack of basic literacy among young people leaving school is costing them valuable opportunities to get a job in the future, according to the latest reports.
Incorrect grammar and bad spelling are among the main problems restricting youth employment and education, director of CBI Scotland Iain McMillan has warned.
Speaking to teachers, politicians and business people at Ayr College, Mr McMillan said that Scotland's young people are suffering when they leave school because they are not getting the right amount of literacy support to increase their chances of employment upon leaving education.
Mr McMillan blamed the Scottish exam system for failing to deduct marks for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
He commented: "It is of vital importance to the future prospects of our young people that all in Scotland's education community fully understand the importance of the need for accurate spelling, good grammar and good presentation."
CVs and covering letters are the first hurdle of employment that cannot be overcome due to bad spelling and poor English, Mr McMillan added.
The Telegraph recently reported that the Prince's Teaching Institute conducted a survey and found that the number of children taking English literature at GCSE level has fallen by 12 per cent in the last four years to the lowest rate of 500,000 pupils.
