In the past literacy was considered to be the ability to read and write. In today's world the definition of literacy has changed to reflect changes in society and the skills needed by individuals to participate fully in society. It involves listening, speaking, reading, writing, numeracy and using everyday technology to communicate and handle information. It is vital that we get the basis for our children's education right from the offset.
This can be achieved at home with the help of parents and older siblings. As we all know, a child learns different attitudes and opinions about life from playing with peers, reading, writing, their early school years and their parents. The ability to be able to comprehensively read and write is the most basic element of education we can give on our children.
However, there are some startling statistics out there that raises the issue that literacy levels in Ireland, not only with kids but adults alike, are beneath the standards that we should be setting (23% of Irish adults are considered to be illiterate). Ireland continues to have the largest number of children in proportion to population in the European Union. However, a Department of Education and Science study reveals that a comparison of 1998 data with 2004 data shows no change in national reading standards, despite the reduction in class sizes and an increase in the number of learning support teachers available.
The 2004 report prepared for the Department of Education also examined literacy standards in disadvantaged primary schools. This report by the Education Research Centre at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra found that more than 30 per cent of children in those schools suffer from severe literacy problems. It is not all bad, however, as Ireland ranked well above average in an international study. (The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) - 2011). It is very clear that while standards have not improved in the last 15 years they have not declined too much either but there is still a small number of children in this country whose level of literacy could be improved vastly.
According to Gerald Nash, Labour Party TD:
"The international OECD skills survey in 2009, which found that almost one in six Irish 15 year olds do not have the literacy skills to cope with further education or the demands of today's workplace, makes tackling literacy problems in our schools even more urgent."
While the problems of today do not seem too bad, if we do not tackle this issue relatively quick then the future career and education prospects of some of the children of Ireland will be reduced significantly.
Here, at MS Ireland we are helping to tackle this issue with the launch of our annual READaTHON campaign. Not only does the event help to create much needed money for services for those living with MS, it also helps to promote the importance and benefits of reading and literacy to our youths. We believe our READaTHON can bring about vast improvements in the levels of child literacy in Ireland.
Our READaTHON was launched on Monday 9th September 2013 and children and schools alike can still participate with entry forms and sponsorship cards available from our website - www.msreadathon.ie. The event takes place from 11th October 2013 - 11th November 2013.