Summary:
The main objective of this thesis is to study the international surveys of the skills of adults in mathematics, regarding content, way of conduct, planning and their possible effects in education and lifelong learning. The main focus is put on the study of the mathematics of adults in light of the Program for the International Assessment for Adult Competencies (PIAAC). In addition, the role of the media in the presentation of the results of those surveys is extensively studied, and their stance and its effects to the socio – pedagogic field is analyzed.
The results of a research held in Greece under PIAAC are presented, analyzed, interpreted and theoretically approached by utilizing current social and pedagogic literature and its directions. This research concerning Greece was held in a yearly basis (4.1.2014 – 3.31.2015) and examined a sample of people between 16 – 65 years old. Its means included answering to questions about academic skills and profession, as well as test examinations about text understanding, mathematical exercises solving and the use of computers.
The main findings are conclusions about the academic skills of adults, depending on their age, their capability of understanding a text, their experience in the use of computers, their mathematical skills and their occupation. It is held a comparison between groups of ages, as well as with the other OECD countries. The results could be described as rather worrying as there were lower than OECD average. The media in general expressed their concerns about findings, some in intense and other in a milder style, while in general it can be said that in the presentation of results their political-ideological direction was not evident, with the exception of one publication.
Keywords:
Numeracy, Lifelong learning, Media, PIAAC, Adult skills
