Statistics of Illiteracy

Summary:

Summarizing this article the lack of literacy is illiteracy according to criteria of UNESCO - above the 15th years of age not more then 23rd year People having no skills of reading and writing are called illiterate.

Language and Literacy:

Working with language constitutes a basic axis in the literacy process, given its importance for the formation of the subject, for interacting with others in guiding them , the construction of much knowledge and psychomotor development and affective. We understand that the area of language arises from its use in various circumstances in which children can understand the social function it exercises through these acquisitions and develop different skills. Thus, learning of spoken and written language is an essential element to enhance their chances of integration and participation in social practices.

Literacy in Third World Countries:

In today's wealthy industrial societies the problem is absolutely marginal, usually for less than half a percent of the population. In the countries of the Third World goes back a dozen or even several dozen per cent of inhabitants. Currently it is estimated that in Europe is 3% of illiterates in South America. - 15% in Asia - 33%, and Africa - 50%.

In Poland, illiteracy was a legacy of political conquerors who sought to restrict education. In 1914 the Polish lands were 57% illiterate people in the Russian zone, 40% in Galicia , and 5% in the Prussian partition. According to statistics in Poland in 1921 was 33.1% illiterate, in 1931 - 23.1% in 1960 - 2.7% in 1978 - 1.2%.

Literacy in Developed Countries:

It is not easy to assess the scale of secondary illiteracy and functional (concerning the inability to understand and use printed information and graphical representations such as icons, charts, diagrams), which is the practical inability to use the written word: a lack of understanding of the content of simple instructions, inability to fulfill the simplest forms. The same is true of mathematical literacy, to render people unable to verify the account at the box office window, not to mention the calculation of taxes. The study of these issues is sometimes very different results, depending on the adopted criteria. This percentage is even in rich countries may reach 50 or more percent. For example, estimated that 77% of Americans, 47% of Poles and 28% of Swedes have problems understanding the text, and as efficient language can be called in these three countries, respectively, only 2%, 21% and 32% of the population (according to the International Adult Literacy Society.)

Conclusion:

Although the primary fight against illiteracy goes by relatively simple methods (although, even for poor countries, they tend to be too expensive) - by providing basic education for all children, so the phenomenon of re-emergence of illiteracy is much more difficult to master and must involve the dissemination of reading among the general population - encourage the use of libraries, bookstores, newspapers, Internet. Thus we may also say that Process of decreasing illiteracy is literacy.