Sir, - The OECD has undertaken a comparative study of adult literacy levels, conducted in two phases. The first phase of the report was published in 1995 and included survey results from seven countries: Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.
The figures for Ireland have not yet been published. However, parts of the report which have been commented on by the Minister for State at the Department of Education, Mr Willie O'Dea, give cause for serious concern.
The survey examined the reading ability of the population at five levels. Level 1 was designed around basic reading tasks. According to the report, 25 per cent of our adult population are unable to cope with reading tasks beyond this level. This compares unfavourably with the countries mentioned above.
Literacy issues are often discussed in the context of an either/or dichotomy. For example, a typical reaction might be: to blame the family or the teacher for the problem; to talk in terms of literate or illiterate in defining the problem; to focus on the primary school or adult education for the solution.
this report calls for a response which will engage with the complexity of the literacy issue. We await its publication. - Yours, etc.,
Michael Toomey, Chairperson
National Adult Literacy Agency, Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1.