Literacy is
an important tool to beat the cycle of poverty
Literacy is
crucial to the success of individuals in both their career aspirations and
their quality of life. It is more than a basic reading ability. It is an
indication of how adults use written information to function in society. Having
strong literacy skills are closely linked to the probability of having a good
job, decent earnings, and access to training opportunities. Individuals with
weak literacy skills are more likely to be unemployed or, if employed, to be in
jobs that pay little or that offer poor hours or working conditions.
Traditionally,
literacy is referred to the ability to read, understand, and use information. However
the term has come to take on broader meaning, standing for a range of
knowledge, skills and abilities relating to reading, mathematics, science and
more. This reflects widespread and deep changes that have taken place in
technology and in the organisation of work over the past quarter century. The
ability to use and apply key mathematics and science concepts is now necessary
across a wide range of occupations.
Literacy is
fundamental for learning in school. It has an impact on an individual's ability
to participate in society and to understand important public issues. And it
provides the foundation upon which skills needed in the labour market are
built.
Technology,
and the science behind it, permeates all aspects of our lives, from how we work
and communicate to what we shop for and how we pay our bills. The complexity of
today's world means that individuals need to have some level of proficiency in
reading, mathematics and science in order to understand and participate fully
in economic and social life.
A
population's literacy skills also have a bearing on how well a country performs
economically. The world we live in today is vastly different from that of a
generation ago. Technological changes have transformed the way in which we work
and the labour market is rapidly evolving from a manufacturing and agricultural
base to one based on services. These changes have, in turn, brought rising
skill requirements. Countries that are successful in endowing their populations
with strong skills are usually in a better position to meet the economic challenges
of operating in a globalised information economy.
Finally,
having a population that has strong literacy skills also places a country in a
better position to meet the complex social challenges that it faces. For
example, strong literacy skills are linked to better health outcomes for
individuals. A highly literate population will be better able to deal with
issues of governance in a highly diverse society.
As
I write I am on my way to Mauritius on holiday. A nice break away from work and
Rotary matters. A week full of sun, sea and fun. Reading through the morning’s
newspaper I note that this week (14th - 21st March) has
been declared Library Week in South Africa. Libraries connect people to each
other to knowledge and information. It provides access to information on every
subject matter including health and hygiene, economic empowerment, poverty alleviation,
education and much more. All of these are focus areas within our wonderful
organisation. Libraries also provide us with an opportunity to connect via the
internet through online learning opportunities using research tools. Like all
things that have evolved over the years libraries too have evolved. They no
longer just provide a place where we borrow books and after a period, return
them. It is a place of technology and information in our fast moving
environment.
Libraries
are rather special to me. My first job after my secondary schooling was at the
local Durban library as a library assistant. I spent three years there learning
the various aspects of library science including the Dewey decimal system which
system classifies books according to their field of interest. It was also the
place that allowed me the opportunity of starting my academic studies on a part
time basis whilst having this job to fund it.
Literacy is at the heart of
basic education for all and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child
mortality, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development,
peace and harmony. It is for this reason that literacy is the core of education
for all.
Rotary
provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share, to give a gift, to take responsibility
together and to encourage others. It also provides us with an opportunity to
improve the skills of people so that they are given a better chance of success
after all we all have the same dreams, hopes, needs and goals.
Natty Moodley
Rotary Africa
April 2015
