WALES: Skill levels improving - inspectors.

Byline: By TOM BODDEN Welsh Affairs Correspondent

INSPECTORS yesterday reported an improvement in the attainment of key skills among work-based learners in Wales.

Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, published the main findings of a survey which found that use of new strategies resulted in improved key skills attainment.

Its 2005-2006 annual report highlighted that more than half of learners on apprenticeship programmes did not achieve th1STr qualifications.

Not enough completed the key skills and technical certificates that they needed to gain the full qualification training framework for a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship (FMA) or a Modern Apprenticeship (MA).

Now Dr Bill Maxwell, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, said: "Over the last two years, there has been a significant improvement in the number of learners who complete the key skills in order to gain th1STr apprenticeship.

"Work-based learning providers have put into place many effective strategies to improve the delivery and attainment of key skills within qualification frameworks."

The report recommended the Welsh Assembly Government continue to provide support and training for key skills to help work-based learning providers to improve the quality of training.