The State of Literacy: 2013 and 2014
2013 is winding down.
Countdowns and “top 10” lists of the year are popping up everywhere, including
the Top 10 most watched YouTube videos, the Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs, and a Top 10 Everything, where you can look at 54 lists of the “bests” in 2013, developed by
TIME Magazine.
This also the time for lists
for the coming year, such as Best Trips 2014
or Top 10 Food Trend Predictions for 2014.
We’ve joined the trend and
here’s what we’ve developed as a Top List for Literacy in both 2013 and 2014:
Top Moments for Global Literacy in 2013
- International Literacy Day celebrations. September 8 has been designated by UNESCO as International Literacy Day and this year’s theme was “Literacies for the 21st Century,” reflecting the idea that literacy is no longer just knowing how to read and write, but also means having the basic education to make one capable of participating fully within society. (See more here)
- The Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) was released, providing evidence on the importance of literacy and literacy services. (See more here)
- The U.S. Conference on Adult Literacy 2013 in Washington, D.C. was a huge success! ProLiteracy organized more than 110 Congressional appointments, discussing the importance of adult literacy service funding.
Top Moments for Global Literacy in 2014
- The high school equivalency exam (formerly the GED) is changing and it has spurred other companies and states to be involved in the testing service. This brings further awareness to the fact that more than 39 million adults aged 16 and older in the U.S. lack a high school credential.[1] We hope in 2014 this will result in larger numbers of students earning their high school equivalency exams. (For more information on the different exams, please see more here.)
- Innovative solutions to tackle low literacy levels have been developed around the globe, including using technology in innovative teaching methods and ProLiteracy’s Literacy for Social Change program. This program integrates learning and community improvement by teaching basic literacy skills. We hope that in 2014 these solutions will continue to improve the lives of adults all over the world.
We believe every adult has a
right to literacy. Literacy remains a major challenge for so many people worldwide,
but ProLiteracy is optimistic for 2014 and beyond.
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