Adult literacy helpline gets 700 calls in two weeks

THERE have been fresh calls for a new adult literacy strategy after it emerged that 700 people contacted the National Adult Literacy Agency in the past two weeks alone. The flood of calls came after the screening of advertisements on television from January 1 by NALA.

According to spokeswoman Clare McNally, since An Post developed and sponsored this advertising campaign more than two years ago encouraging adults to improve their literacy, NALA has recorded more than 11,000 calls to its freephone support line.

The latest flow of calls has prompted renewed calls for a fresh approach to literacy and numeracy training for adults who now, in the throes of the recession, are more concerned than ever about their suitability for employment.

"Some people who ring say they can read and write certain things but have difficultly pronouncing or spelling bigger words," Ms McNally said.

"Most adults with low literacy skills can read something but find it hard to understand official forms and instructions.

"Some will have left school confident about their reading and numeracy skills but find that changes in their workplace and everyday life make their skills inadequate.

"A driving factor for the increase in calls in the last year seems to be the current economic climate – a lot of people have either recently lost their jobs or are fearful that they will.

"It seems people particularly coming under pressure are those working in construction and manufacturing."

More than three-quarters of callers said their reading and writing was holding them back from promotion or further training, while about 30% of callers ask for help specifically with spelling and a further 10% want help with maths.

"A refreshed strategy would raise literacy and numeracy levels, as well as impact on employability, competitiveness, children's school performance, and social inclusion," Ms McNally said.

"The cost benefit analysis of adult literacy found that the benefits outweigh the costs within two years, and solely from the exchequer perspective, costs are repaid within five years."

The Government has been criticised in the past for having unambitious and longer-term targets for tackling adult literacy problems.

Last year NALA appealed for a new strategy to address the issue, including the continued development of workplace basic education and the integration of literacy into publicly funded education and training programmes.