World Literacy Foundation: Building Plans to Eradicate Illiteracy

OXFORD, United Kingdom, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The World Literacy Foundation announced today that a Global Literacy Summit will be a key platform to build collective global action to eradicate illiteracy in our society.

The event will host more than 300 delegates from more than 80 countries in the developed and developing world. They include world leaders from governments, 60 Ambassadors, leaders of literacy, education and development organisations, and business leaders who support the cause of literacy.

Andrew Kay, CEO of the World Literacy Foundation said, "Illiteracy has major social and economic consequences on a person's life. Whether you live in England, United States, India or Kenya, illiteracy is ruining lives and is linked with an array of poor life outcomes.

"The inability to read and write can be directly linked to poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, crime and long term illness. It is estimated that 796 million people in the world are technically illiterate, and many more struggle to read and write to a satisfactory level," he said.

Mr Kay concluded, "Illiteracy needs to be treated as if it is a disease which we are aiming to eradicate. We need to understand that early intervention can avert a life time of hardship, poverty and pain for a child, young person or adult who is struggling to read or write."

According to the research of World Literacy Foundation:

• 796 million people, or one in five adults, lack basic literacy skills
• 141 million primary and secondary school age children are not in school

The key media events at the Summit include:

• Release of new research highlighting the social and financial cost of illiteracy of 80 different on March 27
• Opening Ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford University, April 2 @ 9am
• Release of the "Oxford Declaration" April 4@ 2pm (post conference call to action)

More information: Andrew Kay on +44-78-6793-3115 or email [email protected]

SOURCE World Literacy Foundation