FUNCTIONAL ILLITERACY IN GERMANY KIRSTEN BRÖCKER, LANDESVERBAND DER VOLKSHOCHSCHULEN

SACHSEN-ANHALT E.V., ALPHA-NETZWERK

NETZWERK ALPHA

- BMBF project

- Started in October 2012

- Project administration:

- DLR

- until September 2014

MAIN POINTS

What is literacy/illitercacy/functional illiteracy?

- Definition

- Types of illiteracy

- Different levels of illiteracy

- Main study dealing with illiteracy

- leo.-Level-One Study (University of Hamburg)

FLIPCHART/CARDS

Functional illiteracy

What is functional illiteracy?

What is typical for illiterate people?

Is the topic present in media/public discussion?

How is the situation in your country?

DEFINING AND CONCEPTUALIZING

LITERACY

For most of its history in English, the word

‘literate’ meant to be ‘familiar with literature’

or, more generally, ‘well educated, learned’.

Only since the late nineteenth century has it

also come to refer to the abilities to read and

write text, while maintaining its broader

meaning of being ‘knowledgeable or educated

in a particular field or fields’.

LITERACY: ABILITY TO READ AND WRITE

Literacy is the ability to read and write. The

inability to do so is called illiteracy or

analphabetism.

Literacy is ability to use written language

actively and passively.

Types of analphabetism: See your copies

DIFFERENT TERMS

Analphabetism

Literacy/Illiteracy (Health Literacy, Financial Literacy, Family Literacy)

Basic Education

SOME HAVE ARGUED THAT THE DEFINITION

OF LITERACY SHOULD BE EXPANDED:

"The ability to read, write

and use numeracy, to handle information, to

express ideas and opinions, to make decisions

and solve problems, as family members,

workers, citizens and lifelong learners"

THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC

AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)

DEFINES LITERACY AS

the "ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society".

LITERACY IS CONSIDERED TO BE

- a measure of the value of a region's human capital:

- Literate people:

- - can be more easily trained than illiterate people

- - have a higher socioeconomic status

- - enjoy better health and employment prospects.

- Literacy increases job opportunities, access to higher education and participation in all parts of social, political and cultural life

BROADER SENSE OF LITERACY

The word ‘literacy’ has begun to be used in a

much broader, metaphorical sense, to refer to

other skills and competencies, for example

‘information literacy’, ‘visual literacy’, ‘media

literacy’ and ‘scientific literacy’.

It is argued that literacy includes the cultural,

political, and historical contexts of the

community in which communication takes place.

FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE

Definition: A person is functionally illiterate who

cannot engage in all those activities in which

literacy is required for effective functioning of

his group and community and also for enabling

him to continue to use reading, writing and

calculation for his own and the community’s

development.

HISTORY

- „Literacy“ is a public theme since the 1970s

- UNESCO: tried to raise awareness, fight poverty,

alphabetisation campaigns

- Weltbildungskonferenz 1985

- United Nations Decade of Literacy

2003-2012: challenge to increase the literacy

rate worldwide

IN GERMANY

- No public theme until the 1970s

- New technologies, changes at

the job market

- After the German reunification – the „problem“ is

actual/current in Eastern Germany, too

- First conference1980 in Bremen

- Alphabetisation courses at VHS, writing classes,

publications and professional journals came out

IN GERMANY

- 1997 Bundesverbandes Alphabetisierung und

Grundbildung e.V. was founded (German

Association for Alphabetisation and basic

Education)

- Teaching materials, course concepts, public

relations

- United Nations Decade of Literacy:

National Plan of Action in Germany

IN GERMANY

- 2003 conference in Bernburg: Bernburger

Thesen

- campaign: „Mein Schlüssel zur Welt“ (Literacy

as a key to the world)

- Self help groups are founded

- Literacy as an object of research and studies

LEO.-LEVEL-ONE-STUDY (2011)

Study of the University

Of Hamburg

Prof. Anke Grotlüschen

Dr. Wibke Riekmann

http://blogs.epb.uni-hamburg.de/leo/files/2011/12/leo-Press-brochure15-12-2011.pdf

GERMAN POPULATION AND ILLITERACY

2.3 Mio. people

Can read and write only simple words, but not sentences.

5.2 Mio. people

Can read and write words and short sentences but not texts.

Together: 7.5 Mio. people

Functional Illiterate / Alpha Level 1-3

+

13.3 Mio. people

Poor writing skills / Alpha-Level 4

ALPHA LEVELS AND POPULATION

GENDER: MORE MEN

AGE GROUPS: MAJORITY IS 50-64 YEARS OLD

LITERACY ACCORDING TO EDUCATIONAL

QUALIFICATION

LITERACY ACCORDING TO OCCUPATIONAL

STATUS: 57% ARE EMPLOYED

DEMOGRAPHIE ANALPHABETISMUS

WHY IS BASIC EDUCATION IMPORTANT?

- 20% of the apprentices are

not ready and qualified for

vocational training (lack of soft

skills and basic education)

- Demographic development:

- Lack of skilled and qualified

- workers in Germany

- (not only academics)

WHY IS BASIC EDUCATION IMPORTANT?

- low-threshold trainings/further education

trainings focussing on basic education are

underrepresented in most companies

(compared to trainings for managers and

leadership trainings)

APPROACH: COMPANIES AND EMPLOYERS

- Illiterate people work in typical fields within the job market: transport, cleaning, agriculture and forestry, logistics, storekeepers, kitchen helps, vehicle drivers, caretakers

Responsibility of companies

and employers

Personnel managers,

placement officers at jobcenters

could be „key“ persons

PARTICIPATION

Participation

Decisions

Experiences

Knowledge

Action

CONSEQUENCES OF ILLITERACY/ 4 GROUPS

How does illiteracy affect the everyday life?

- financial status, work, job

- family, relationships, friendships, social

contacts, children

- culture, politics, society, participation, media

and information technology

- - alimentation, health, emotions, psychological

conditions

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!