ILLITERACY OF THE YOUTH

Illiteracy is the quality of being unknowledgeable in a subject or field; in layman’s terms, it is the lack of
sufficient education and ability to read and write. Illiteracy has many types, which are mainly: Alphabetical,
scientific and computer illiteracy [1]. Due to a lot of factors that can be considered, many children cannot afford
to attend school and acquire proper education [5] which leads to the big numbers of illiteratess. However,
Illiteracy of the youth cannot be solved by just providing education for the children; illiteracy can be passed
from generation to generation, thus it is also rampant among people from the older generation, particularly those
who resides in rural areas [2]. In fact, one of the factors that causes the rise of youth illiteracy is mostly rooted
from their home environments, which is the parents’ little schooling or the family’s history of illiteracy [3].

FACTORS, CAUSES & EFFECTS/IMPACTS OF ILLITERACY

Youth illiteracy is caused by numerous factors, which are: First, the parents’ illiteracy and their lack of
emphasis to the importance of education to their child/ren [3]. “Functionally illiterate parents who then have
children tend to have lower expectations regarding schooling. Work is often placed before education, and the
children of parents who have failed to complete primary school have the tendency to do the same” But when
illiterate adults take the step to improve their own literacy skills, it has a net positive effect on their children.
[6]. Second, the lack of access to books or reading materials on home [3][4], and the factor that plays a huge
role with this matter and is a precursor to all other consequences of illiteracy, which is poverty [2].
Poverty can be considered as one of major roots of illiteracy and vice versa because without the ability
to read or write, many illiterate people become trapped in a cycle of poverty with limited opportunities for
employment [6]. Also, due to indigency, many children particularly those who came from a poor family, resorts
to child labor or working at a very young age in expense of their childhood and are forced to skip school in
order to support their family [4][5]. “The most serious consequences of child labor is that children trapped in
forced labor are inhibited from receiving an education.” [5].
Illiteracy has negative impacts some aspects, such as: Health, Crime, Society, Education and Welfare
[6]. It results to limited health literacy or ability to understand health-related information and messages [3].
Illiteracy also increases the likelihood of high-risk sexual behavior, due to lack of sexual and reproductive
education and inadequate or no use of contraception [6]. Crime is also linked to youth illiteracy. In fact, 85% of
juvenile delinquents are functionally illiterate [3][6]. Also, in various countries around the world, studies show
that most prison inmates have poor literacy skills [7]. Due to limited employment opportunity and low income
earning potential, illiterate people tend to depend on welfare and unemployment benefits [3][7].

- nysahshhs ayan lng di n keri ng utak ko today emz

RELATED IMAGES:

child labor

https://www.amnesty.org.au/act-now/woolworths-coles-
https://philippines.licas.news/2020/06/12/ aldi-child-labour/
photos-child-labor-in-philippines-small-scale-
gold-mines/

Illiteracy

https://www.istockphoto.com/illustrations/illiterate

Poverty/ Lack of resources

https://www.borgenmagazine.com/taiwan-poverty-rate/
SOURCES:
[1] Ismaeel, A. I. (2020). “Illiteracy and Its Impact on the Reality of Iraqi Youth Between Heritage and
Contemporary”. Journal of the College of Education for Women, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 242-250. Illiteracy and its
Impact on the Reality of Iraqi Youth between Heritage and Contemporary | Journal of the College of Education
for Women (uobaghdad.edu.iq)
[2] Jaitly, D., Prasad, A., Dr. Singh, D.B. (2012). Illiteracy and India. International Journal of Transformations
in Business Management, Vol. No. 1, Issue No. 5. illiteracy and india.pdf (stellamariscollege.edu.in)
[3] Child Illiteracy in America: Statistics, Facts, and Resources. (n.d.) Regis College. Available online at Child
Illiteracy in America: Statistics, Facts, and Resources | Regis College Accessed 14 February 2022.
[4] Illiteracy: Essay on Causes and Effects of Illiteracy (n.d.) IMP Center. Available online at Illiteracy: Essay
on Causes and Effects of Illiteracy (imp.center) Accessed 14 February 2022.
[5] Bonnette, K., Th.D. (2018). Child Labor, Illiteracy, and Poverty: A Tragic Cycle. Atlantic Mid-west.
just_act_-_child_labor_1.pdf (atlanticmidwest.org)
[6] The Economic and Social Cost of Illiteracy. (2018). World Literacy Foundation.
TheEconomicSocialCostofIlliteracy-2.pdf (worldliteracyfoundation.org)
[7] The Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy: A snapshot of illiteracy in a global context. (2015). World
Literacy Foundation. https://speakingbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/WLF-FINAL-ECONOMIC-REPORT.pdf