R.M.Torres,2006 1

ADEA 2006 Biennial Meeting (Libreville, Gabon, March 27-31, 2006)

LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

1. Literacy is an ageless concept.

2. Literacy acquisition and development take place in and out of school.

3. Literacy is a transgenerational issue.

4. Literacy is a solid foundation for lifelong learning.

5. Literacy is essential for human development and for improving people’s quality of life.

6. Literacy is a lifelong learning process.

REDUCED GOALS, EXPANDED TIMEFRAMES

LITERACY FOR ALL

Eradicatingilliteracy

1980s-2000

Reducingilliteracyby 50%

1990-2000-2015Education

for All

2000-2015Millennium

DevelopmentGoals

REDUCED GOALS, EXPANDED TIMEFRAMES

LITERACY FOR ALL

Basiceducation

(basiclearningneeds of all) Primary

education(4 years)

P

2000-2015Millennium

DevelopmentGoals

1990-2000-2015Education

for All

A SHORT LITERACY PROGRAMMEFOLLOWED BY A SHORT POST-LITERACY

PROGRAMME?

LITERACY FOR ALL

LL PLPL+++

LL

L I F E

A LITERATE SOCIETY IS A PREREQUISITE A LITERATE SOCIETY IS A PREREQUISITE FOR FOR

AN INFORMATION AND A KNOWLEDGE AN INFORMATION AND A KNOWLEDGE SOCIETYSOCIETY

LITERATELITERATESOCIETYSOCIETY

INFORMATIONINFORMATIONSOCIETYSOCIETY

KNOWLEDGE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETYSOCIETY

LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

BUILDING A LITERATE SOCIETY IMPLIES:

1. Universal quality basic education for all children.

2. Universal literacy for all out-of-school

youth and adults.

3. Promoting a literate environment and a literate culture at local and national level.

4. Eradicating poverty.

LITERACY FOR ALL

BUILDING A LITERATE SOCIETY IMPLIES:

3. ENSURING A LITERATEENVIRONMENT

4. ERADICATING POVERTY

1. UNIVERSAL QUALITY

BASIC EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN

2. UNIVERSAL QUALITY

BASIC EDUCATION FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS

COMMUNITY

FAMILY

1. Literacy is an ageless concept

LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

YOUTH

CHILDREN

ADULTS

2. Literacy acquisition and development take place in

and out of school

The basis for literacy acquisition is rooted in early childhood.

Literacy development goes far beyond the school system.

The school system does not guarantee literacy acquisition.

LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

3. Literacy is a transgenerational issue

Parental illiteracy is a contributing factor to children’s problems in life and in school, including teacher and student discrimination.

Literate parents ensure literate children and stimulate them to read and write.

Literate children stimulate their illiterate parents to learn.

Teachers who read and write habitually provide exemplary practice to their students.

LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

4. Literacy is a solid foundation for lifelong

learningAlthough not all education, learning or

knowledge depend on the written language, reading and writing play a central role in

self-expression and communication schooling the building and transmission of

information and systematic knowledge the development of an active mind.

LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

5. Literacy is essential for human development and for improving people’s quality

of lifeLiteracy improves the quality of life of

people in many and most profound ways, not only and not necessarily economic in nature. It is related to human dignity, self-esteem, liberty, identity, autonomy, critical thinking, knowledge, creativity, participation, empowerment, social awareness and social transformation.

LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

6. Literacy is a lifelong learning process

Literacy implies VARIOUS:

Stages of learning, development and mastery of reading and writing.

Dimensions and applications of reading and writing.

Formats: letters, print, mass media, digital technologies, etc.

Uses and management of information and knowledge (e.g. “informational literacy”).

LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

LITERACY FOR ALL, LIFELONG LEARNING FOR ALLLITERACY FOR ALL, LIFELONG LEARNING FOR ALL