The inability to read or write well enough to complete everyday tasks in modern society is known as functional illiteracy. It’s not the same as illiteracy, which is defined as the inability to read or write at all. Functional illiterates can read and write at a basic level but are unable to perform more advanced tasks such as operating a computer, filling out a job application, or filling out a tax form. According to a 2007 study, 860 million people around the world are functionally illiterate.
The level of illiteracy needed to be functionally illiterate varies by culture. Without advanced reading skills, a person living in a rural, agrarian community in the developing world may be able to complete most daily tasks. To complete even simple tasks, someone who lives in an urban environment with a strong reliance on technology needs a much higher literacy level.
Functional illiteracy isn’t just a problem for people on the margins of society. Ford and Motorola, for example, have sponsored remedial reading programs to bring their employees up to a functional literacy level. According to a 2003 study by the US Department of Education, 14% of adult Americans are functionally illiterate. In a similar study in France, functional illiteracy was found to be at 9%. According to the study, more than half of the functionally illiterate Frenchmen were employed.
Those with learning or reading disabilities, as well as those who are unable to read or write in a second language, such as recent immigrants, are not included in the statistics on functional illiteracy. These are two distinct problems with their own programs and solutions. Functional illiteracy has its own set of issues; sufferers employ a variety of techniques to conceal their illiteracy, and they frequently feel shame or embarrassment, which prevents them from seeking help. It’s been linked to aliteracy, or the unwillingness to read even among literate people, according to experts. In cultures where information is widely available in audio-visual formats such as television, many functionally illiterate people may believe there is no need to learn literacy.
Experts say that efforts that begin in early childhood can help to prevent functional illiteracy. Literacy is more likely to be embraced by children whose parents encourage reading and are active readers themselves. This process should begin before the child begins school and continue throughout his or her life. Adults who are illiterate should be encouraged to seek out educational and training programs tailored to their specific age groups. Friends and family members can provide emotional support, which can help to remove the stigma of seeking help.