ELINET (European Literacy Policy Network)

Problem

In Europe, 1 in 5 children, adolescents and adults lack basic literacy and this increases their risk of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion. It also limits their opportunities for cultural and civic participation, lifelong learning and personal growth. This situation is dramatic because – on the European average – there is no improvement in the reading performance of children and adolescents in the last 15 years, as the results of PIRLS and PISA demonstrate.

Solution

ELINET’s vision is that everyone in Europe shall be literate. People of all ages, regardless of social class, religion, ethnicity and gender, are provided with the necessary resources and opportunities to develop sufficient and sustainable literacy skills and knowledge to effectively understand and use written communication in print and digital media. The term ‘literacy’ covers reading, writing, oral communication, digital literacy, and language for the inclusion of refugee and migrant populations.

Objectives:

1. To improve and advocate literacy policies and practices across Europe to support all European citizens’ and residents’ lifelong rights to engage critically and creatively with communication and learning (see ELINET’s European Declaration of the Right to Literacy)
2. To build and maintain a network of literacy experts (researchers, practitioners and policymakers)
3. To provide a communication platform to strengthen and foster collaboration and cooperation between different stakeholders in the field of literacy promotion.

Sustainable Development Goals addressed

Some facts:

The causes for low literacy levels are multiple and complex – they can start in early childhood, continue through school and persist throughout life due to lack of strategic and financial support for lifelong learning.

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