Literacy and the Standard of Literacy and the Standard of Living in Latin AmericaLiving in Latin America

Unit 7 NotesUnit 7 Notes

What is Literacy Rate?What is Literacy Rate?

■ A A literateliterate person is one who can read person is one who can read and write.and write.

■ Major factor in whether a person can Major factor in whether a person can get a job and be successful in the get a job and be successful in the workplace.workplace.

■ A country’s A country’s literacy rate literacy rate is the is the percentage of the population over age percentage of the population over age 15 that can read and write.15 that can read and write.

Literacy in Latin Literacy in Latin AmericaAmerica

■ The countries of Latin America have improved The countries of Latin America have improved the literacy rates of their people in the past the literacy rates of their people in the past decade.decade.

■ On average, 89% of Latin Americans are On average, 89% of Latin Americans are literate.literate.– Unfortunately, this means that the Unfortunately, this means that the

illiteracy rate illiteracy rate is 11%.is 11%.

■ The The standard of living standard of living (“economic (“economic level” achieved by a person, family, or level” achieved by a person, family, or country) is often higher in countries country) is often higher in countries where the literacy rate is high.where the literacy rate is high.

High Literacy Rate = High Standard of Living

Boys Vs. GirlsBoys Vs. Girls

■ In some Latin American cultures, it’s In some Latin American cultures, it’s more important for boys to have an more important for boys to have an education than girls.education than girls.– They believe that it is not as important for They believe that it is not as important for

girls to learn to read/write as it is for boys.girls to learn to read/write as it is for boys.■ Literacy Rates in the Region: Literacy Rates in the Region:

– Girls: 88% Boys: 91%Girls: 88% Boys: 91%■ In some countries, the difference In some countries, the difference

between boys & girls is much larger. between boys & girls is much larger.

■ The goal of every country is to have The goal of every country is to have 100% literacy rates among its people.100% literacy rates among its people.

■ One reason that many people cannot One reason that many people cannot read/write is that their communities read/write is that their communities cannot afford to pay for teachers or cannot afford to pay for teachers or schools.schools.

■ Many governments, missionaries, & aid Many governments, missionaries, & aid groups come to the poorest countries in groups come to the poorest countries in Latin America & are assisting the people Latin America & are assisting the people in educating their children.in educating their children.

Cycle of PovertyCycle of Poverty■ Having basic reading & writing skills is very Having basic reading & writing skills is very

important important – Without skills, workers are stuck in the lowest-Without skills, workers are stuck in the lowest-

paying jobspaying jobs■ A cycle of poverty can develop when people cannot A cycle of poverty can develop when people cannot

get an education…get an education…– Uneducated are forced to get low-paying jobs, so Uneducated are forced to get low-paying jobs, so

they cannot get enough money to pay for their they cannot get enough money to pay for their children’s education…cycle continues for children’s education…cycle continues for generationsgenerations

■ The standard of living remains low for these The standard of living remains low for these families because their education level is lowfamilies because their education level is low