Reasons for and impact of low literacy levels in adults
Low literacy and numeracy levels are caused by a combination of many factors which
are often complex and complicated.
For the New Zealand context some consistent themes include:
 English as a second or an additional language
 Leaving school without educational qualifications
 Broken school from transient families in search of job opportunities
 Learning disabilities, eg undiagnosed dyslexia
 Health issues eg undiagnosed glue ear, eye sight
 Low family and self-expectations
 Lack of use of literacy and numeracy skills ‘lose it or use it’
 Increasing poverty with overcrowded housing conditions and health issues eg
rheumatic fever
 Poor access to, and poor engagement with, early childhood education
 Children growing up in difficult, disadvantaged conditions, with parents whose
own educational experiences have been poor, may not have the same crucial
learning support as those raised in more comfortable circumstances.
Analysis of ALL data by Sutton (2009) examined the demographic and educational
characteristics of adults with level 1 document literacy skills, level 1 numeracy skills
or both, using ALL data. She found that:
 immigrants (i.e. people born outside New Zealand) made up 38 percent of
those with both literacy and numeracy skills at level 1
 recent immigrants (those who had arrived since 2000) made up 14 percent of
those with both literacy and numeracy skills at level 1
 38 percent of adults with both low literacy and numeracy skills spoke a
language other than English as their first language
 members of the Māori, Pacific peoples and Asian ethnic groups were overrepresented among adults with low literacy and numeracy skills
 the educational qualifications of this population were relatively low: 32 percent
had completed less than three years of secondary education.
Reference
(Labour, D. of. (2010). Workers with Low Literacy or Numeracy Skills - NZ
Department of Labour. Press Release. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from
http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/research/adult-literacy/adult-literacy_05.asp)
Scottish research (2008) found:
Economic disadvantage including social class, housing and financial circumstances
is one of the factors which work against educational progress and inhibits literacy and
numeracy skills acquisition.
Cohort members with the poorest grasp of literacy and numeracy were the least likely
to have been read to every day when they were age 5.
Parental aspirations and attainment strongly influence their children’s education.
Reference
New Light on Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland Summary Report. (2008).
Scottish Government. Retrieved from
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/216990/0058169.pdf