About 500,000 Irish adults have literacy problems, a shocking and worrying figure for a sector that suffers from chronic underfunding. In an OECD report that divided assessments of literacy into five levels, from "low" to "superior", 25 per cent of Irish adults were deemed to fall into level one. This level indicates very low literacy skills - someone at this level might have difficulty working out the correct dosage of a medicine to take from the information given on the package.
The OECD International Adult Literacy Survey, published recently, was based on data collected from a random selection of households during 1994 and 1995, surveying people aged between 16 and 64 years.
More than half the Irish people surveyed were in the lowest two levels of literacy, with just 13.7 per cent in the highest category. Both these figures compare unfavourably to countries such as Sweden, Canada, Germany and even the United States. Unlike simple literacy tests, which require participants to demonstrate only their ability to read or write, the OECD survey was more far-reaching in its scope and methods. It considered ability under three different headings, covering prose, document and quantitative literacy; it required people to show not only straight comprehension, but also their ability to understand and process information.
Could people extract information from a graph or timetable? How well could they complete an order form? Understand an editorial? Calculate a tip? Balance a cheque book?
Before the OECD report was published, it was estimated that roughly 100,000 Irish adults have literacy problems. The new figure calls into question the low priority that has been given to this area. At present, literacy and community education get around £2 million from an overall education budget of £2 billion.
"Prior to this it has been very difficult to get an accurate picture of how extensive the literacy problem was," says Inez Bailey, acting director of the National Adult Literacy Agency. "We tended to focus on reading and writing difficulties; the OECD report has a slightly different slant in that it is looking at skills from an economic point of view and how people's quality of life can be affected by their literacy abilities.
"The survey, while emphasising the extent of the problem, also underlines the fact that we don't have a well developed adult education system when compared with other countries. Furthermore, we have neither the funding nor the resources to support it. "To date, funding has been provided in a very piecemeal way and the sector depends heavily on the commitment of volunteers," she says.
Liz Dalton runs the Dun Laoghaire adult literacy scheme in Co Dublin and she has been involved in literacy for the past 15 years, first as a tutor and then as a regional organiser. There are roughly 115 people in the Dun Laoghaire scheme and the majority are aged under 30.
"The stigma attached to literacy problems is still enormous," she says. "It's okay to admit that you're stupid when it comes to computers or technology or even maths, but it's not okay to admit to a weakness in literacy. We've got to get over this.
"In my experience there is a direct relationship between early schoolleavers and problems with literacy. I've also found that illiteracy has very little to do with intelligence. We see very bright people who have difficulties. People develop all sorts of compensatory skills to get by.
"For example, they learn to read or write enough to get them through, or some develop fantastic memories," she says.
"People usually decide to come forward when something about their lives changes and they need improved levels of literacy," says Margaret O'Leary, adult basic learning organiser for the Blanchardstown area of Dublin.
"Often they don't know what help is available or they are too embarrassed to ask for it. Usually they are pushed into it by something like their kids going to school and needing help with homework, or perhaps they're stuck in a job and they're afraid to apply for something else in case they're `found out' as having poorly developed literacy skills," she says.
"We cater for about 110 adults mainly in the 30-to-40 age group. But there are approximately 85,000 people in this area, and with the OECD estimating that as many as 25 per cent of them will have low literacy levels, we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg," O'Leary says.
`Coming to US takes a lot of courage. It's a very big step for people and it goes much deeper than literacy alone," she says. "It's closely linked to the whole concept of self-confidence and self-esteem. "We've seen a big increase the numbers of people coming to us since September and we think this is linked to the opening of the shopping centre in Blanchardstown and the availability of jobs. We do a lot of follow-up with people. If they don't show up we contact them, because they often need a lot of support. We emphasise that they can come back any time all year round."
Greta Vaughan is the adult literacy organiser for Co Limerick. She echoes Margaret O'Leary's views about the link between literacy and self-esteem. "When someone comes to us we are seeing a much broader canvas than just a literacy problem," she says. "We also see all the social and emotional fall-out from people feeling inadequate. The positive thing is that this is a problem which can be addressed and we see people's self-esteem recovering dramatically as they realise what they can achieve.
"I think confidentiality is a problem, especially in rural areas, and particularly at the beginning when people are very reluctant to go into a group. "Our service is under a lot of pressure to meet all the referrals we get and we couldn't do what we do without our volunteers. They are the backbone of the service not only for their commitment but also for the idealism and the energy they bring to what they do, " Vaughan says.
Logistics can also be a problem in rural areas, as Mary Buckley of Word Aid in Kilkenny points out. "For people in outlying regions there is the whole issue of transport and how they can get to classes, especially at night when there may be no bus service," she says.
"We also find that confidentiality is a big thing and you can alienate people by calling it a literacy scheme. Ideally classes should be held at a venue where people can come and be anonymous, or at least blend in with the other adult-learning activities that are going on.
"We also try to offer people something beyond the literacy tuition itself. For example, we offer adult-education qualifications from the NCVA and we refer people on to the VTOS scheme as well. It depends on what people want from us. We have around 60 people participating in our scheme and I think more people are coming forward due to publicity about the scheme. I think it's important to break down the barriers which prevent people coming to us."
Contact Point
Dun Laoghaire literacy scheme is holding an information evening for employers concerned about or interested in the literacy of their employees. It will be held on November 13th at the Kingston Hotel at 7.30 p.m.
For information, contact Liz Dalton (tel: (01) 280 4684) or the South Side Partnership (tel: (01) 230 1011).
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