Dubai – 1.9% of people in the UAE have only a low level of literacy, according to a study. A study on ‘Economic Cost and Social Impact of Illiteracy’ reveals the economic cost and social impact they cause. Globally, 770 million people cannot read a single word and 2 billion people have difficulty reading a single sentence.
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The UAE has an annual revenue of US$8.3 billion. Andrew Kay, chief executive officer of the World Literacy Foundation and co-author of the report, said illiteracy is affecting the financial sector due to low earning power and financial reasons. The community of literacy experts faces significant challenges as early data shows a decline in literacy rates post-Covid19. Literacy helps transform the lives of young people and bring out all their potential.
It is estimated that around 1,95,000 people in the UAE struggle to acquire basic literacy skills. Andrew Kay spoke about this economic cost and social impact report at the Oxford University World Literacy Summit 2023 on the 3rd of this month to highlight the true impact of illiteracy in the UAE. World Literacy Council Chair Dr. Tony Cree said.
500 literary experts from 85 countries participated in the World Literacy Summit. 2023 at Oxford University, United Kingdom. An additional 48,000 participants from developing countries participated in the program through a virtual/online TV channel. The summit was an important opportunity for the wider literacy community to come together, find solutions and create a roadmap for the future.