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The State of Global Literacy (And Where the United States Stands)
IMSE
Journal: 8.14.2019
Even
with increased attention from policymakers and the public, literacy trends are
predicted to stay stagnant in middle and high-income countries over the next
decade. In Francophone African countries, literacy rates are expected to drop
by nearly a third by 2030.
Literacy
is a bit of a trigger word in today’s landscape. Between Michigan’s Read by 3rd
Grade retention law, the emphasis on media literacy, and the challenges of
adult illiteracy across the world, some argue it’s a global crisis.
It
is true that literacy rates have been trending up over the last 2 decades,
going from 83% to 91%. However, according to UNESCO, there are still an
estimated 617 million children in primary and lower secondary schools that lack
minimum proficiency in reading. What’s more eye-opening is that 750 million
adults still cannot read or write a simple sentence.
Even with increased attention from
policymakers and the public, literacy trends are predicted to stay stagnant in
middle and high-income countries over the next decade. In Francophone African
countries, literacy rates are expected to drop by nearly a third by 2030.
And while you might think that the
United States is at the forefront of literacy and education, it ranks 125th for
literacy rate among all countries. The reasons for that are quite complex.
The Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) is comprised of 35 countries, most
of which are from Europe. OECD compiles educational data from nations across
the globe.
According to their latest report,
the United States was one of only five countries in the OECD to cut education
funding in the years leading up to the study. The United States spent
approximately $12,800 per student on elementary and secondary education, which
is 35% more than the OECD country average.
Where
the United States starts to fall behind is how much knowledge students gain
from their education. According to the Programme
for International Student Assessment, 15-year-olds in the U.S. ranked 31st
out of 35 OECD countries in standardized tests.iii
What
more countries are starting to realize is that without a solid foundation of
literacy skills, students are being set up to fail in all other areas of their
education.
The
stale educational adage of “learn to read, read to learn” is starting to show
its many flaws, one of which is that everyone learns differently. READ
MORE >>
Adult
2019:
Adult Literacy in the United States, NCES 2019-179
2013:
OECD Skills Outlook 2013: First Results from the Survey of Adult Skills, OECD
2009: Literacy
of America's Least Literate Adults, NAAL 2003
2006:
Literacy of America's College Students, AIR
2007: Literacy
in Everyday Life, NAAL 2003
2003:
National Assessment of Adult Literacy, NAAL
2000: Programs
for Adults in Public Library Outlets, USDE,
NCES
1992:
National Adult Literacy Survey, NALS
International
Ongoing
Progress
in International Reading Literacy Study, PIRLS
Program
for International Student Assessment, PISA
Programme
for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, PIAAC
2017:
Literacy Rates Continue to Rise from One Generation to the Next, UNESCO
Fact Sheet No. 45:
2016:
Human Development Index, UNDP
2015: Economic
& Social Cost of Illiteracy: A snapshot of illiteracy . . . World
Literacy Foundation
2006: Literacy
for Life, Global
Monitoring Report, UNESCO
2003-12: Literacy
Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE), UNESCO
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