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Illiteracy seriously impacting us all

Announcement posted by Keneally Consulting 06 Sep 2018

International Literacy Day September 8 2018 creates again the opportunity for commitment to change illiteracy

With one in four people struggling to read today, illiteracy and low-level reading skills is often a hidden social issue in our community.

Reading a medicine label, understanding a road sign or writing an email is a barrier for millions of illiterate people who are socially and economically isolated.

Illiteracy impacts a person’s future education, employment, relationships and their health & wellbeing.

Mr Andrew Kay, CEO of the World Literacy Foundation says, in today’s world, children are reading less books and using more digital devices and social media. The result is we are heading towards a major train wreck and an illiteracy crisis with catastrophic social outcomes. The basic reading and writing levels of young people are falling at a rapid rate.

Globally, 800 million people can’t read a single word, with a further two billion people who struggle to read a sentence. Literacy can leave people trapped in poverty marginalisation and isolation. It is estimated that the cost of illiteracy is $1.2 trillion USD each year to the global economy .  

Mr Kay says, International Literacy Day is an important annual reminder that the ability to read and write, which so many of us take for granted, is not shared by millions of people. We mark this day in 2018 to highlight the broad range of benefits literacy skills can bring to breaking a poverty cycle and provide a pathway to education, employment and social cohesion.  

 

www.worldliteracyfoundation.org

About International Literacy Day.

September 8 was declared International Literacy Day by UNESCO on October 26, 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

About World Literacy Foundation

World Literacy Foundation is a peak global not-for-profit body aimed to create greater understanding and awareness of the role of literacy in a person’s life.