ILLITERACY
The inability to read or write or lack of knowledge in a particular subject; ignorance.
Illiteracy
in individuals stems from different, generally inter-related causes which,
together, create a series of often insurmountable barriers for those
concerned.
For
instance, for someone born into an underprivileged milieu to parents with
little formal schooling, the likelihood of being illiterate or experiencing
serious learning difficulties will be higher. This is known as
intergenerational transmission of illiteracy.
The
following are the most frequent causes of illiteracy in adults:
- Parents
with little schooling;
- Lack
of books at home and lack of stimulation as to the importance of reading;
- Doing
badly at or dropping out of school—many have not completed high school;
- Difficult
living conditions, including poverty;
- Learning
disabilities, such as dyslexia, dysorthographia, etc.
Adults
aged 45 and over with low literacy skills have the distinction of belonging to
generations for whom there were attractive job opportunities despite a lower
level of schooling. A very large number of them have always worked in the same
field, founding their families, and thus have never felt the need to go back to
school.
Owing to the closing of
many companies over the past few years, especially in the manufacturing and
primary sectors, these people have found themselves out of work, and are often
unable to find a new job, because they have difficulty reading and writing.
Also, they lack the necessary skills to meet current market requirements or to
register in training that would allow them to requalify.
The problem with illiteracy and how
it affects all of us
The first few years of a
child’s life are some of the most important. Beyond the crying, cooing,
napping, and stumbling that marks toddlerhood, there’s a whole lot of cognitive
development occurring. In fact, about 80 percent of a child’s brain is
developed by age three, with a key period of development occurring in their
language and literacy skills.
Unfortunately,
the quality of early childhood education a child receives is often determined
by his or her economic status. Studies have shown that by age 5, half of children living in
poverty are not academically or socially ready for school. By fourth grade, the
divide increases with 80 percent of low-income children reading below grade
level. These children often fall behind during critical early years, which not
only negatively affects their performance in the classroom, but can also impact
their social skills, health, and economic status later in life. And this
problem extends to our broader society and economy, too.
Literacy and health
Low literacy levels are often
correlated with poor health outcomes, including higher rates of hospitalization
and more frequent outpatient visits, than when compared to adults with higher
levels of literacy. Additionally, low-literacy adults are less likely to have
preventative healthcare screenings or properly adhere to prescribed medication
intake. This lack of understanding around health information and an impaired
ability to make sound health decisions has implications on our larger
society—over $230 billion per year is spent in health care costs linked to
low-literacy adults. An outcome that could be easily avoided.
Reading ability and an
individual’s health status are so closely correlated, that in recent years, the
medical community has begun to treat reading as a public health issue. Medical
providers are encouraged to play an active role in helping to combat the
literacy crisis. In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a toolkit that provides resources for
health care providers and doctors to speak to parents about the importance of
early literacy. It encourages parents to read, talk, and sing with their
children and outlines how pediatricians can implement a literacy promotion
program with their patients. Resources such as this toolkit instill the
importance and the joy that comes with reading for children and their parents.
Literacy and the workforce
Not only do low-literate
adults experience greater health difficulties, they often struggle in the
workforce. According to economist William C.
Wood,
the financial-earning gap between adults with the lowest levels of literacy and
those with the highest is staggering. Almost half of this population is living
in poverty and therefore struggle to provide a living for their family.
Low-literate adults are over ten times more likely to receive public financial
aid and on average only earn $300 per week, even while working full-time.
Additionally, 64 percent of these individuals have never used a computer while
a mere 27 percent hold a high school diploma or GED.
Employers
are less likely to hire individuals who haven’t finished high school, thus
leading to longer periods of unemployment. High rates of unemployment and the
resulting loss of tax revenue end up costing the United States upwards of $225
billion per year.
Woods
suggests that policies designed to increase an individual’s skills and
abilities and make applicants more competitive in the workforce tend to yield
the best outcomes. By providing low-literate adults with the training to
acquire job skills, we allow them to catch up with their more educated peers
and take steps to advance our society as a whole.
What can we do?
Low
literacy is a national crisis that affects all of us and our broader economy.
The earlier we intervene, the larger impact we can make. By taking the time to
understand the facts of this issue and working together to combat the literacy
crisis head on, we can help to ensure children are getting the resources and
attention they need to be strong readers and successful members of society.
Together
we can make a difference and transform the lives of our children and
communities by getting involved in advocating for education and volunteering in
schools.
