A study has pointed to a decline in adult literacy and numeracy in many developed countries
Essential skills such as literacy and numeracy have declined among adults over the past decade in most Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, a survey conducted by the group of developed nations has revealed.
According to the Survey of Adult Skills, which tested 160,000 people aged between 16 and 65 in 31 countries, the downturn is most noticeable among poorly educated adults.
The survey, published earlier this week, evaluated reading comprehension, numeracy and problem-solving. It also looked at how developing and using these skills improves employment prospects and overall quality of life, as well as boosting economic growth in participating economies.
The study found that despite government efforts to strengthen education, literacy stagnated or declined in a majority OECD countries, which include 22 EU member states, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Over the past decade, literacy has only improved in Denmark and Finland.
“This survey underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive re-evaluation of how countries support the development of foundation skills,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said.
“As technology reshapes many jobs, these skills are more important than ever to face the future of work,” he added.
The OECD linked degrading levels in average skills to widening inequality within participating states.
The study showed that in many countries, the lowest-performing adults saw the biggest decline in literacy, and on average across the countries, “one in five adults are only able to understand simple texts or solve basic arithmetic.”
The OECD also flagged a concerning trend in reading comprehension, which has stagnated or declined across most countries.
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