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REGIONAL LITERACY CONFERENCE – BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – MAY 14 – 16, 2008
Addressing Literacy Challenges in Europe
with a Sub-Regional Focus
Building Partnerships and Promoting Innovative Approaches
The Regional Literacy Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan
emphasized the region’s efforts to expand literacy education
so that more people can become economically selfsufficient
in an increasingly technological world. The
steady rise of literacy rates in this region since the political
and social changes of the 1990s is impressive. Today
adult literacy rates in most countries are above 80
percent, and literacy rates for pre-school and primary
school students have
improved.
“Problems unresolved in
schools or higher educational
institutions may become
serious problems for the
economy and society and may
call for the implementation
of large-scale projects in the
field of adult education.”
Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva
First Lady of Azerbaijan and
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
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While significant
progress has been
made, literacy
remains a critical
concern in Europe.
Several conference
presenters
cited recent studies
that reveal growing
numbers of
people with weak
basic education and
limited analytical
skills — skills that are necessary to compete in today’s
information-based global society. These problems are
compounded by migration and influxes of refugees
who have difficulty finding employment because of
language barriers.
To improve workers’ basic skills, conference participants
suggested that employers become more involved
in on-the-job training. Participants also recommended
that governments help develop links between formal
and non-formal educational institutions. In addition,
government leaders should support research for effective
teaching and learning practices and increase literacy
training opportunities in order to meet the needs of a
wide variety of groups.
In Norway, officials have implemented Basic Skills in
the Workplace, an adult literacy training program to
increase basic competency levels. The program was
organized in response to the results of two large international
surveys that Norway participated in: the International
Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) and the Adult
Literacy and Life Skill Survey (ALL).
Launched in 2006, the Norwegian program brings
together representatives from its public and private sectors
to establish and monitor basic skills development
training for employees and job seekers. The program
focuses on reading, writing, math and the use of digital
tools such as computers. A national framework for basic
skills training for adults has been developed under the
program. The framework includes definitions of competence
levels, guidelines for providers, mapping tools and
tests, and a model for teacher training.
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