Today, the world is entrapped in many problems:  hunger, disease, war, and most recently, the pandemic too. But, there is one global tragedy that is equally affecting all countries and communities: illiteracy.

You might think illiteracy simply means not being able to read or write. The truth is illiteracy is a much bigger and complex issue and has deeper effects. Imagine not being able to read a simple sign or fill out an employment form. Millions of adults are unable to read or write. They, therefore, struggle to earn a living for themselves and their families.

Causes of Illiteracy

Illiteracy in individuals stems from different issues, which are mostly interrelated. Let us look at some of the reasons we are suffering from this.

1. Parents with no schooling

This case is more common in poor communities. A great number of  poor people do not to go to school for many reasons, especially living in extreme poverty.

When parents did not have proper schooling, chances are their children will lack receiving the basic education. This in turn leads to leads to illiteracy.

2. Bad Economic Condition

The financial situation of some poor families doesn’t allow them to send their children to school. It’s not possible for parents to pay the fees. In some cases, parents make children do unskilled low paying jobs to earn some money, keeping them out of school and hence illiterate.

     3. Dropping out of School

Some kids don’t do well in school, therefore decide to dropout of school  Hence. they may decide to do other alternatives such as get a job.

In 2013, according to Pew Research Center, the dropout rate for students in the nations was 8%s for African American, 7% for Hispanic , and 4% for Asian, compared to the 4% Caucasian students.

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        4. Lack of Interest in Reading at Home

In poor households, people are generally not interested in reading. There is a lack of books in their homes. The parents don’t read at all, and children don’t have anyone to look up for inspiration.

        5. Disabilities

A major reason behind illiteracy is learning disabilities. Some kids suffer from disabilities involving difficulty identifying speech sounds and spelling difficulty. Dyslexia and Dysorthographia are the most common.

Consequences/Effects of Illiteracy

Illiteracy has adverse effects on all areas of life. Affecting the life of an illiterate individual is just the tip of the iceberg – illiteracy has a significant effect on society as a whole, both socially and economically. Let’s look at some of the severe damages black people (including their kids) suffer due to illiteracy:

1. Inability to understand Important information

One of the most tragic and saddest parts about being illiterate is the inability to understand even the basic things. You are unable to interpret road signs, you can’t read medical prescriptions, and the list goes on and on.

An illiterate individual cannot acknowledge basic yet vital information, making him suffer in everyday tasks.

2. Unemployment

Today’s world is fast-paced, and as they say, “The world belongs to the readers.” If you can’t read, unfortunately, you don’t belong here. If you can’t read and write, work opportunities diminish, and people are left unemployed. A large number of seats remain vacant due to the unavailability of a trained workforce.

 https://www.dw.com/en/illiteracy-closely-tied-to-unemployment-expert-says/a-3627566

3. Low-paying Jobs

Employers are less likely to hire an individual who hasn’t finished high school, let alone an illiterate. Struggling to find a decent job, illiterate people end up doing low-quality jobs that don’t pay much. This is the root cause of the financial problems troubling poor households.

4. Low self-esteem

Illiterate individuals find them very different from others. Their lifestyle, choices, behavior, everything is different, so they don’t quite fit in. Hence their self-respect and self-esteem are deeply hurt, and they find themselves isolated.

5. Health Issues

Reading ability and an individual’s health status are closely related. Illiterate people are always dealing with health issues. Unable to read and comprehend basic signs, they get into more workplace accidents.

Besides this, sometimes they make it even worse by misusing medication through ignorance of health care resources. They cannot read dosage instructions and warnings written on medicines, putting their health at risk.

6. Early Death

The relationship between death and illiteracy is very real and shocking at the same time. The inability to read instructions on a medicine bottle, packet, or road safety signage could lead someone to an early death, which would have been avoided if they had basic reading skills.

7. Societal Problems

Illiterate people have difficulty in understanding societal issues. They are unaware of basic civic responsibility and their fundamental duties, lowering their community involvement and civic participation. They never truly blend in with others and have a troubled social life.

8. Bad Decision Making

The lack of literacy skills limits a person’s ability to engage in the community actively. Less exposure to people and life challenges means less development of analytical and judgmental skills. This is why poor communities have a hard time making accurate and informed decisions.

9. Involvement in Unlawful activities

A society with a low literacy rate experiences social unrest and intolerance. Illiterate people are deprived of ethics and morals, making them participate in crime and illegal activities more often.

10. Slow Overall Progress

The global economy has become very competitive, and literacy is an essential requirement for most technical jobs at the government level. Due to lack of personnel adequacy, many positions remain vacant, causing hindrance in the overall growth of the country.

The country’s slow progress means slow progress of people who can’t read or write.

These are just some of the consequences these people face. Illiteracy has a considerable influence on the home and families of these people. Their children, their economic and social life, everything is affected to the core.

Literacy is a necessary skill in itself and the foundation of other life skills. Literacy programs in school must be fully supported to make sure the kids have a bright future.

Related Links

https://www.history.com/news/nat-turner-rebellion-literacy-slavery

https://www.understood.org/articles/en/how-to-teach-retelling