In a speech in Nicosia in her home country of Cyprus, The European Union’s Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Commissioner Androula Vassileiou said that illiteracy is still a lingering problem in many countries.
She was speaking at a conference organized to preview the launch of a high-level group report from her office under the leadership of Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands The findings were alarming: 20 percent of 15-year-olds can’t read or write properly and 75 million adults in Europe have literacy problems as well.
The report found their lack of skills increased their chances of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion. The 80-page report listed recommendations for parents and teachers, including that schools should have libraries, that there should be more male teachers as role models for young boys who tend to under-perform compared to girls. It also proposed placing libraries in places such as malls and called for more funding for education to ensure to increase access, and urged employers to help their workers acquire literacy skills during their work.
Vassiliou, said: “We are living a paradox: while reading and writing are more important and relevant than ever before in the context of our digitized world, our literacy skills are not keeping up. We urgently need to reverse this alarming situation. Investments to improve literacy among citizens of all ages make economic sense, producing tangible gains for individuals and for society, adding up to billions of euros in the long run.”
Princess Laurentien added: “Reading and writing are much more than a technique or a skill. Literacy is about people’s self-esteem and ability to function and flourish in society as private individuals, active citizens, employees, or parents. We need clear, coordinated national strategies and much better awareness across Europe, not only in policy and educational circles, but also in hospitals, workplaces and especially in families. It is time for Europe to raise its level of ambition and ensure literacy for all.”
European Education Ministers have set a joint goal to reduce illiteracy rates for 15-year-0lds from from 20% to 15% by 2020. The findings showed there is a gender gap too as in most EU countries females have half the illiteracy rate of males. In Belgium, Denmark and Netherlands the gap is smaller, while in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Malta the gap is bigger. Greece had a rate of 21.3% in 2009, falling 6.4% since 2000.
(Source: European Commission)
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