Child Literacy and Social Inclusion: Implementation Issues

A major report launched on 11th November by the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) shows that there has been little change in levels of child literacy problems among pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds over the last 25 years.

The report focussed on the implementation of the Department of Education and Science’s 2005 Action Plan, Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) which sets out Government policy on educational disadvantage, including literacy.  The DEIS target group is primary school children living in disadvantaged communities, and nearly one in three pupils attending schools there have serious literacy difficulties – three times the national average.  The poor levels of literacy for these pupils are in marked contrast to the national average, as Ireland is one of the top-performing countries in terms of overall literacy performance for those aged 15.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Maureen Gaffney, Chair of the NESF, said:  Despite many good practice and successful initiatives both in-school and out-of-school, there has been little significant shift nationally in levels of child literacy problems among pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds over the last 25 years.  The cost of this is high, both for individuals and society as a whole.  For example, a UK study showed that the cost to the public purse of failure to learn to read in primary school was up to £2.05 bn per year.  But for individuals the cost in incalculable – the loss of life chances in securing an education, getting secure and well-paid employment, and being able to participate fully in society. The full report can be downloaded here