Cost of functional illiteracy

 

Functional illiteracy and innumeracy are loosely defined as an inability to reach level one, or GCSE grades D-G in English or maths. It is estimated that there are 6 million illiterate adults in the UK alone, with as many as 800 million worldwide.Studies show this is a growing problem in the UK, with schoolleavers slipping from 7th to 25th in world literacy rankings over the last 20 years, and 1 in 5 adults being considered functionally illiterate.

 

Research has shown that functional illiteracy is costing the UK economy £81 billion pounds a year in lost earnings and welfare spending.Functional illiteracy severely limits employment possibilities, which can lead to poverty and crime and for UK residents from underdeveloped countries it can be very isolating and socially debilitating.

Functional illiteracy differs from general illiteracy in that it is characterised by limited ability to read and write, rather than an absolute inability. This often leads to problems with functioning in day-today life, and difficulty in performing simple tasks that many others take for granted.Standards for literacy vary throughout the world. People who are originally from poorer countries might not have had an opportunity to develop reading and writing skills that are necessary to function in a country such as the UK, where those requirements are higher. These people simply haven’t had the chance to sufficiently develop their skills in those areas and there is a distinct lack of support for people who are in that situation.If we offer people the means to develop these basic abilities, then they can better themselves and potentially avoid a lifetime of difficulty and isolation.

 

By promoting awareness and offering proper education, we can help people to change their lives for the better.We believe that with the right guidance and support we can help people to overcome this often overlooked, but still very prevalent problem.