Meaning, Causes, Consequences and Solutions to Illiteracy

What is illiteracy?

Simply put, illiteracy is when a person can neither read nor write (in any language). For instance, a person may be able to read and write in Chinese language but not in English Language. Such a person is not an illiterate because he or she can read and write (in at least, one language).
Note: We should not be quick to judge anyone as illiterate just because they cannot read nor write in our preferred language.
According to statistics, about 30% of the world’s populations are considered to be illiterate. Generally, illiteracy has negative effects on the people and the society.

 

Causes of illiteracy

Poverty: In countries where the basic child education is not free, poor parents will find it very difficult to send their children or wards to school.

Medical problems: This may result from learning disability such as dyslexia (a situation where children have difficulty in reading), dysorthographia (a learning disabiity where children have difficulty in writing) or even physical disability like blindness, deafness and dumbness. Education may become difficult for children with any of these medical conditions, especially those from poor background.

Little or no awareness: Some uneducated parents living in rural areas are yet to know the importance of education even in this modern age. Creating awareness on the importance of children and adult education will go a long way to encourage education, especially in rural areas.

No parental support: Children without parents (orphans) may be adopted by families, only to end us as slaves without education in such families. If the government fail to make good policies on behalf of these orphans, some may end up as street beggars or even criminals.

Illiteracy in parents: Illiteracy is seen more in rural areas when compared to urban areas since some or most of the rural parents are uneducated and as such may not give priority or significance to education. Educated parent always know the importance of education and will therefore do their best send their children or wards to school.

Culture: Certain culture may completely prohibit the education of a girl child for reasons best known to them.

Corruption: A corrupt government may embezzle the budget allocation reserved for education; to the detriment of the masses. Some may put in place very little structure and allocation towards education. Whenever this happens, the educational sector will suffer.

Lack of schools: In some developing countries, some local government have very few or no schools. Children living in these local governments are likely to have little, poor or no education.

 

Consequences or Effects of Illiteracy

1. An increased rate of unemployment in a society.

2. Increase in crime rate within a society.

3. Misappropriation of government’s fund because more prisons will be built instead of schools.

4. An increased rate of child marriage.

5. Increase in substance and drug abuse. Read our article on drug abuse HERE

6. Creates an undeveloped society and nation.

7. Illiteracy promotes illiteracy (that’s why some people consider it to be a disease).

8. Illiteracy brings about medical diseases and poor health. For instance, illliterates may not understand what HIV is; not to talk about how it can be prevented.

9. Illiterate people may not exercise their right to vote.

10. They may end up earning low income which will not be equivalent to the complexity of their job.

11. Frustration as a result of low self esteem.

 

Solutions to illiteracy

1. Educational awareness should be created in every community.

2. Government should increase budgetary allocations to education.

3. More libraries should be created while the people should be encouraged to have access to free books.

4. Scholarship programs, education subsidy and grants should be created to encourage education.

5. Government should create easy and cheaper access to internet facilities.

6. Government should create more jobs for the educated in order to encourage education.

7. Government and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) should create special schools for the physically challenged in the society.

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