In the most recent assessment by the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), approximately 19% of adults in the United States scored at or below Level 1 in literacy (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2019a). Adults who performed at Level 1 were only able to identify one key piece of information from…

UIL has published a second edition of a collection of case studies of promising literacy programmes that seek to empower women. "Narrowing the Gender Gap: Empowering Women through Literacy Programmes" (originally published in 2013 as "Literacy Programmes with a Focus on Women to Reduce Gender Disparities") responds to the…

Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning and a crucial element in the universally recognised right to education. However, illiteracy continues to exist as a global challenge, and many individuals still lack the basic literacy skills that are needed to engage in further learning opportunities and for the economic and social development of…

Discusses the problem of illiteracy and offers the philosophy for children program as an antidote. This program encourages and assists children in paying attention to their own and others' ideas. It is a thinking skills program that has demonstrated its ability to improve children's basic skills. (JOW)

23 million Americans lack the reading and writing skills needed to handle the minimal demands of daily life. The widespread problem of functional illiteracy pervades every segment of society and could erode the ability of the nation to keep up with other technologically advanced countries. (SK)

Jobs in the future will demand a more skilled and literate work force than we have. One solution to the basic skills problem lies in job-related, accomplishment-focused programs that benefit the organization and the employee. (JOW)

The principal aspects that characterize the illiteracy problem in 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries and the achievements of 22 currently established literacy programs were determined through a 1981 UNESCO study. The purpose of this study was to obtain data useful in the planning of future literacy programs. Section one identifies…

Given the large gap between the millions of adults in need of basic literacy skills and the shortage of teachers, tutors, and funds to serve them, computer-assisted instruction (CAI) has the potential to reduce the gap. The merits of CAI include its holding power, provision of a positive learning environment, opportunity to learn about computers,…

In reviewing the Army Continuing Education System in 1979, the Assistant Secretary of the Army found a basic skills program based on traditional academic level goals was inadequate to meet the Army's requirement to provide functional, job-related basic skill education. Combining the shrinking manpower pool and projected basic skill deficiencies of…

Over 60% of 533 local government units responding (of 1,215) employ workers lacking basic skills, which impedes mobility and affects customer service. About 26% cope by providing basic skill training or making accommodations for lack of language or computational skills. (SK)

Taking a global perspective, this yearbook presents an overview and analysis of key issues and trends in the field of international literacy. The book integrates a psychological and cultural approach to advance a new method of analyzing literacy concepts designed to set up linkages between childhood literacy and adult literacy, between literacy…

The literacy problem in the Cleveland area and recommendations for dealing with it are presented in this booklet. Beginning with a definition of literacy and a discussion of the human costs and economic consequences of illiteracy, the booklet advocates reducing adult illiteracy, eliminating basic skills deficits, and improving communications…

The first section of this paper reports the results of numerous literacy studies in which adults were tested on a variety of tasks, including filling out forms, answering questions about newspaper classified advertisements, and dealing with certain facets of consumer economics. The percentage of adults in the United States reported to be literate…

The author states that economic problems are the impetus behind a new call for school reform. Various proposed solutions are discussed, such as new governance structures, teacher improvement, and educational vouchers. (CH)

The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) is a household survey conducted periodically by the Department of Education that evaluates the literacy skills of a sample of adults in the United Stages ages 16 and older. NAAL results are used to characterize adults literacy skills and to inform policy and programmatic decisions. The Committee on…