International Literacy Day 2016

Today is the UNESCO designated International Literacy Day 2016.

In the graphic prepared by Education Scotland (see above), there is an admission that the UK has one of the lowest literacy rates in the developed world with one adult in six living with poor literacy. This statistic challenges us to think about what goes on in our schools and what we can offer adults that want to improve their literacy.

It is positive then, that as part of the Attainment Challenge programme of work in our primary schools, literacy has a very prominent place. This includes the citywide introduction of a common phonics based approach, Read Write Inc., to teaching reading. Initial observations about pupil progress have been promising.

Help for adults in Dundee wanting to improve their basic skills is available through Discover Learning 

Email discover.learning@dundeecity.gov.uk 

Tel 01382 666665

Find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/discoverlearningdundee

Website http://www.discoverlearning.org/literacies

International Literacy Day 2014

Today, 8 September 2013, is International Literacy Day. Through this day UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally.

Despite many and varied efforts, literacy remains an elusive target: some 793 million adults worldwide lack minimum literacy skills, which means that about one in six adults is still not literate; 67.4 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out.

In Scotland, literacy remains a critical issue with one in five children at Primary School struggling with literacy. This disappointing statistic came from research commissioned by the Scottish Labour Party in 2008. They commissioned a group of writers, academics, educationalists and business people to investigate child literacy standards in Scotland. The final report, published in December 2009, found that as many as 25 percent of Scottish pupils were leaving primary school without the basic literacy skills to function in a modern society.

To successfully tackle the problem of low literacy levels, the commission urged the adoption of a policy of zero tolerance to illiteracy across the board. The commission’s zero tolerance of illiteracy is a far stronger commitment than the UK Government’s policy of 95 percent of adults having functional literacy by 2020.

The Scottish Survey of Adult Literacies 2009 is the official source for information on adult literacies skills. Their findings show:

• Around three-quarters of the Scottish population aged 16-64 (73.3%) have a level of skills that has been recognised internationally as appropriate for a contemporary society.
• Around one quarter of the Scottish population aged 16-64 (26.7%) may face occasional challenges and constrained opportunities due to their skills but will generally cope with their day-to-day lives;
• Within this quarter of the Scottish population aged 16-64, we find that 3.6% faces serious challenges in their literacies practices.

This year’s International Literacy Day is dedicated to “literacies for the 21st century” to highlight the need to realize “basic literacy skills for all” as well as equip everyone with more advanced literacy skills as part of lifelong learning. In Scotland, in the context of the growth in many public and private services defaulting to electronic submission, functional literacies might include 'reading' a web page, conducting a web search and applying for a social security benefit online.

In Dundee, adult literacy and numeracy classes and help with using a computer are organised by staff based at the Mitchell Street Centre.
Mitchell Street Centre, Mitchell Street Dundee, DD2 2LJ
Telephone 01382 435808
Opening Times: Monday, 9 am to 7 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 am to 9 pm Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

SNP fail to bring forward Literacy Action Plan

Labour’s Literacy Commission reported in January this year and Mike Russell, the SNP's Education Secretary promised Parliament during the debate on its findings that he would bring forward a Literacy Action Plan. However eight months on - despite the overwhelming vote in the Scottish Parliament in favour of such a plan being brought forward - nothing has been forthcoming so far from the Scottish Government.

The Literacy Commission found that almost one million Scots have difficulties with literacy and every year nearly 1 in 5 children leave primary school not able to read and write to the basic standard. The Commission’s report called for a zero tolerance approach to tackle the problem of illiteracy and made a number of clear recommendations.

It is a bitter disappointment on International Literacy Day that despite repeated promises by Michael Russell no Literacy Action Plan has been brought forward. The Literacy Commission’s report was a wake-up call for Scotland. Eight months after the Literacy Commission Report and Labour’s debate on the report we’ve seen nothing from Mr Russell’s department. Every child in Scotland deserves the tools for future success and eradicating illiteracy is the vital first step in providing these basis skills. Mr Russell appears to think that the problem of illiteracy will be resolved by the Curriculum for Excellence. But if, as the Minister claims, the new Curriculum has been running effectively in Scottish primary schools for years what additional steps is he taking to prevent 13,000 children leaving primary school every year unable to read and write effectively? The truth is that specialist learning support is being removed from schools up and down the country as a result of SNP policies, making the job of classroom teachers more difficult.