‘Great distance to travel’ to full literacy, says Higgins

Children who do not learn to read, write and communicate effectively at an early age remain at risk of failing to complete secondary education and ending up in low skilled jobs or unemployed as adults, President Michael D Higgins has warned.

Speaking at the launch of the 2015 National Adult Literacy Awareness Week, the President highlighted the necessity to eradicate illiteracy from Irish society, saying adults with low literacy skills went through life with feelings of “shame, low self-esteem, a sense of isolation and a fear of being found out”.

“Illiteracy and exclusion through reading creates a deeply shadowed world which denies its inhabitants the ability to communicate in the most very basic ways,” said Mr Higgins.

Simplest tasks

The President was responding to the findings of the 2013 OECD research into literacy in Ireland, which found one in six Irish adults have problems with even the simplest literacy tasks such as reading instructions on a bottle of aspirin. The survey also found one in four people in Ireland find it difficult to do simple maths.

The definition of literacy can no longer be confined to reading and writing, said the president, but must also now include the ability to understand and engage with the communication of the technological age, including “spoken language, broadcast media and digital media”.

“There is a real danger that as a society we might create a new layer of inequality, a new fissure in our society, and a growing sense of isolation as we find ourselves struggling to overcome that digital gap.

“Literacy, as a gateway to participation in society, is a fundamental right and must be a priority for all who are concerned with human rights and equality,” said Mr Higgins, adding that the State had a “great distance to travel yet” before achieving complete literacy across Ireland.

“It is vital that we ensure that members of our society are equipped with the skills to question and challenge decisions made by individuals and institutions in positions of power and authority, ensuring such decisions are ethical, based on fairness and not on any privilege derived from wealth,” he said.

National Adult Literacy Awareness Week, which runs from September 21st to 25th, aims to raise awareness of people with low literacy skills, including those who can read but struggle to understand official forms or deal with technology.

Inadequate skills

The National Adult Literacy Agency (Nala) has found that even though some people leave school confident about their numeracy and reading skills, they find their skills are inadequate in the workplace or everyday life.

Director of Nala Inez Bailey says adults without competent literacy skills tend to be very vulnerable and at higher risk of living in poverty and being “excluded from the opportunities” Irish society offers.

“Sometimes people are very worried about returning to education and hide their difficulties with reading and writing from their friends and family,” said Ms Bailey.

“We need well-designed and convenient programmes that address the needs of people who are coming to the programmes.”