an analysis from british cohort studies bynner and parsons found that once people were aware of weaknesses in their basic skills they tended to be interested in improving these this is in line w ith an earlier study of further education fe students basic skills agency which found that a major barrier to taking up basic skills support was that many people did not know that basic skills were essential to the successful completion of their course conversely some of those who know they have literacy and numeracy problems are reluctant to admit it