Why literacy matters Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - 17:20

Why Literacy Matters draws on decades of literacy research from around the world to contribute to the continuing debate about what literacy means and how it affects people throughout their lives.

In recent years, it has been argued that adult literacy and numeracy programmes contribute to a more productive workforce and address the inadequacies of schooling. This has led to increasing demands for such programmes to prove their worth, which is made more difficult by the lack of hard evidence.

Why Literacy Matters addresses these issues by examining the research evidence, presenting the wider outcomes of literacy and numeracy learning and making strategic suggestions like shifting the way we think about literacy as two separate elements of school literacy and adult literacy, to thinking about it as an aspect of people's entire lives.

Dr Ralf St. Clair, Reader in Education, Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow, and author of Why Literacy Matters, said:

"This book pulls together a wide range of evidence to build a powerful and convincing argument about why literacy matters to all of us. In it, I explain that we can look at literacy as a set of capabilities, leading to an inclusive and open way of thinking about what people do with written language. The book sets out to present the evidence and to provide clear insights for policymakers, practitioners and others interested in the vital questions around literacy today."

NIACE has launched an independent Inquiry in England to look at what needs to be done next to help the estimated 5 million people who still lack the literacy skills needed for modern life. Updates and ways of contributing can be found online.