Adults

Illiteracy and literacy

Mistaken beliefs

 

To understand the reality experienced by illiterate individuals, we have to set aside our prejudices and stereotypes. That is not always easy, since in society the word “illiterate” has pejorative, negative connotations. It implies that these individuals are less “good” than people who know how to read and write. The dearth of information on this topic contributes substantially to reinforcing this perception.

Our awareness and information mandate is aimed primarily at taking the mystery out of the problem, raising people’s awareness and changing mindsets concerning illiteracy.

Here is a series of widely held mistaken beliefs concerning illiterate individuals, along with the actual situation.

 

In Quebec, there aren’t many illiterate people—they’re only found in developing countries. FALSE

 


In fact, 16% of Quebecers are illiterate, and 33% have serious reading difficulties. These figures are not invented, they are quite real. Illiteracy affects all countries, whether they are industrialized or not. Quebec is no exception to the rule.

 

Most illiterate individuals (Level 1) are elderly and immigrants. FALSE

 

They aren’t just elderly people. Among those in the labour force:

  • 10% are aged 16–25
  • 39% are aged 26–46 (adults of parenting age)
  • 51% are aged 46–65

They aren’t just immigrants:

  • Only 31% of people at Level 1 are immigrants (aged 16–65).

In addition, immigrants often have very good reading and writing skills in their own language. Where they have trouble is with French. These people are more in need of French-language classes than literacy training.

Immigrants often have more schooling than average Quebecers. In fact, education is a significant criterion for being entitled to immigrate to Quebec.

Source:

Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey: Public Use Microdata File, Statistics Canada, 2006. Compilation: Institut de la statistique du Québec.

Illiterate people are not intelligent. FALSE


On the contrary, illiterate people are highly resourceful. Operating in a culture of survival, they acquire their resourcefulness quickly, and learn in the heat of the action. They often manage to hide their problem for a good part of their lives from their immediate entourage, because on the outside they appear to be functioning normally.

 

People with dyslexia are illiterate. FALSE

 

People with dyslexia are not necessarily illiterate. They can read and write, although they do have trouble doing so. Dyslexia, like dysorthographia and other such problems, can cause illiteracy when combined with other factors, such as lack of supervision and help.

 

Illiterate parents are bound to have illiterate children. FALSE

 

It’s true that children whose parents are under-educated or illiterate are more likely to be illiterate in their turn. But if their parents are made aware of the importance of reading at an early age and they have the necessary support to be involved in their children’s education at home, the children will be better equipped when they go to school, and will have every chance of succeeding.

The people around the children (friends, babysitters, extended family) and school staff will also have a major influence on how well they do at school.

 

Illiterate individuals are all unemployed. FALSE

 

  • 54% of 16-65-year-olds are employed (Level 1).
  • 14% of 16-65-year-olds are not working, but are looking for employment (Level 1).

 

In addition, illiterate individuals aged 60 and over who are on the labour market belong to generations for whom education was not mandatory. So they have often learnt their trade on the job, and have always worked in the same place. Since they did not need education to move up the job ladder, they never went back to school and thus remained in the labour force.


Sources

Développer nos compétences en littératie : un défi porteur d’avenir, Rapport québécois de l’Enquête internationale sur l’alphabétisation et les compétences des adultes (EIACA) (Developing Our Literacy Skills: Meeting the Challenge of the Future, International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey [IALSS]—Quebec Report), 2003, Quebec City, Institut de la statistique du Québec, 256 pages.