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World Numeracy Programme

The notes below refer to the World Numeracy Programme insofar as the RSS Centre was associated with it in the late 1990's. During 2001/2 the programme has been re-launched under the leadership of Carol Blumberg and as part of the work of the International Association for Statistical Education.  More up to date information will be found on the relevant IASE pages.

Some years ago, the  International Statistical Institute established the World Numeracy Programme.  Its aims were to spread quantitative skills all over the world, especially in developing countries.  It is analogous to UNESCO's world literacy effort, even though it is on a more modest scale.  The International Statistical Institute (ISI) sees itself as the international academy of statisticians, which has been promoting the development of statistical science and scientific data collection practices since its beginnings in the 19th century.  In view of the weaknesses observed in quantitative skills in many parts of the world (especially in the developing countries), in addition to its more traditional tasks, ISI wished to mobilize its elected members (about 1800 persons) and the members of its Section (about an additional 3200 persons) for the WORLD NUMERACY PROGRAMME.

A number of projects were proposed as falling under the World Numeracy Programme umbrella.  Not all of them have been funded.

Arising from discussions within the Advisory Board for the WNP, there was a feeling that an international network of individuals interested in promoting world numeracy should be convened.  This network could act as a conduit through which news of national numeracy initiatives can flow to other areas.  It might also be able to stimulate some initiatives, and locate sources of funding to support them. This web site was set up as a focus for the network's activities. 

ICOTS-5  (5th International Conference on Teaching Statistics, Singapore, 21-26 June, 1998) was an ideal opportunity for promoting the World Numeracy Programme.  This conference also afforded us with a good opportunity for attracting additional members of the network.  The theme of the conference was Expanding the Network, so it was particularly apposite for us to meet there.

Another relevant conference was ALM-5, Adults Learning Mathematics, held on 1-2-3 July 1998 near Utrecht, Netherlands.  The theme was Mathematics as part of lifelong learning, and the main question was: what kind of math should we teach in order to enable adults to manage their own life, and to function optiminally in work and social life?  This too was an opportunity to promote statistical and probabilistic understanding as important life skills.  

     Discussion about Terminology
     How should the Network proceed?

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