A SCHEME encouraging Welsh employers to work with schools and students to show how numeracy can be used in real life has been launched by the education minister.

The new scheme will operate at a regional level catering for the needs of individual schools and based on what local employers can provide.

Three organisations, Techniquest, Techniquest Glyndwr, and Steam Powered Stories will use their existing links, or broker new links between employers and schools.

Education minister Huw Lewis said: "By having employers work with young people and teachers in the classroom, demonstrating the practical application of maths and numbers through a range of subjects, it will help them realise the importance of having strong numeracy skills in the future.

"As part of that, our National Numeracy Programme is putting in place a five year programme of activities designed to raise the levels of numeracy in school age pupils across Wales."