THE GOVERNMENT should introduce more ambitious policies to address literacy and numeracy problems, organisations working in the area as well as Opposition politicians said yesterday.
Reacting to a survey showing two out of five people have difficulty with everyday maths calculations, Social Justice Ireland said Government policy to reduce the proportion of the population with restricted literacy to 10-15 per cent by 2016 is “unacceptable”.
“Overall, Social Justice Ireland believes that the Government’s literacy target is illogical, unambitious and suggests a complete lack of interest in seriously addressing this problem,” said Dr Seán Healy, director of the body. He said the Government’s own targets would leave between 301,960 and 452,940 people with serious literacy difficulties.
“The question needs to be asked: how can policy aim to be so unambitious? How will these people with serious literacy problems function effectively in an economy and society that is emerging in Ireland?” said Dr Healy. He said a more ambitious target of reducing literacy difficulties to 5 per cent of the public by 2016 and 3 per cent by 2020 should be set by the Government.
Labour education spokesman Ruairí Quinn said the survey highlighted the absence of any national adult literacy strategy since 2006.
“Illiteracy is one of the biggest causes of inequality in Ireland’s society and economy. Without the ability to read or count, people cannot find work, access public services or avail of education. The personal cost of illiteracy is isolation, poverty, and disenfranchisement,” he said.
The survey was published by the National Adult Literacy Agency, which has launched a TV advertising campaign.
Try three of the questions asked in the maths survey: