Literacy

Literacy plays a crucial role in our modern society and is considered one of the most essential skills to acquire. It serves as a pathway to academic success and greatly affects various aspects of our lives, including our earning potential and overall health and well-being. Having strong literacy skills is instrumental in leading a fulfilling and satisfying life[1].

However, it is concerning to note that despite the undeniable significance of literacy, many countries, particularly certain western nations, are experiencing a stagnation or decline in literacy levels. This poses a critical challenge to ensuring a prosperous and thriving society.

[1] Source: The Global Importance of Literacy - International Literacy Association

Fast Facts

Approximately 40% of students across the nation cannot read at a basic level, according to the National Literacy Institute.
54% of adults have a literacy below sixth-grade level. 21% of Americans 18 and older are illiterate in 2022. Low literacy rates end up costing Americans up to $2.2 trillion every year.
Low literacy increases costs for healthcare services, criminal justice systems and social assistances, and boosts the demand for social services.
Low levels of literacy are linked to lower civic participation and community engagement and higher levels of incarceration and dependence on welfare.

Learn more about literacy

Has the pandemic worsened the literacy crisis?

As the pandemic drags into its third year, a cluster of new studies shows that about a third of children in the youngest grades are missing reading benchmarks, as the New York Times reported, up significantly from before the pandemic.

U.S. reading and math scores drop to their lowest levels in decades

NPR's Debbie Elliott speaks with Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, about the decline in math and reading scores among 13-year-olds in the U.S.

The silent epidemic of falling literacy rates

One in five people in the world are completely illiterate, according to the World Literacy Foundation. Furthermore, nearly 130 million Americans, or over half of adults read below a sixth-grade level, and a large number of them are found in less privileged areas.

COVID’s Literacy Fallout

Without crucial literacy skills, children might never be able to reach their full potential and may suffer the consequences of unemployment, poverty, starvation, and many more lifelong problems. When students were sent home from in-person school to learn remotely, educational gaps became greater than ever. With so many who cannot afford Wi-Fi and have no resources to log on to virtual class, and with the varied quality of online classes, the consequences were inevitable; there was not much teachers—the modern-day heroes—could do.

Page updated

Report abuse