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The education system at the end of the 20th century faces a similar challenge to the one which existed at the end of the 19th century. The earlier challenge was concerned with the need to raise literacy levels due to the industrial revolution. The current challenge concerns changes associated with the digital age. People will have more leisure time to fill. They will also need a higher standard of literacy to cope with the demands of a computer-based life. Literacy campaigns, like the Brookie Basics campaign, represent an investment in the future.

The Prescription for Reading Partnership one year later, and how it has affected literacy efforts NO ONE CAN DENY that reading is one of the most essential life skills that [...]

The UK Labour government piloted Literacy Summer Schools in the summer of 1997. Selected schools ran intensive literacy classes for three weeks during the summer vacation for some of the 11-year-old pupils transferring to secondary school. Some commentators have denounced the scheme, and some issues, including finance and precise objectives, do warrant more careful consideration, but it had a range of benefits. It gave some children a new enthusiasm, it was a refreshing approach to an intractable problem, and it overturned negative attitudes about the commitment of children and teachers.

Information technology is being used to help improve the literacy levels of 600 primary school children in London, England. The expectations of the children are rising and their motivation is growing through access to technology, say the project co-ordinators. Pocket size computers are taken home by the children and parents are actively encouraged to become involved. Many children are expected to achieve average reading levels where they were previously as much as two years below average. Children with learning difficulties are also benefitting from the use of technology.

Media literary programs are sprouting all over the country with the aim of educating children to be better consumers by teaching them how to watch television commercials. These initiatives hope to achieve this lofty goal by encouraging students to critically watch advertisements and to avoid becoming passive viewers of commercials. Examples of such programs may require students to examine how advertising influenced their perceptions of products, analyze ad contents and develop their own commercials customized to their communities, or create ad and media package for elementary school students. Consumers and politicians have thrown in their support for media literacy programs but the media are hesitant. However, they accept the programs when informed that these programs are an education movement and not a tool to blame the media.

Reading Recovery, a program introduced in England in 1989 to raise literacy standards, deserves a permanent place in the education system as it is a balanced approach to promoting reading and writing skills in weak six-year-olds. Critics opposed this program, considering it expensive. However, on a long term basis, this initial investment will only turn out to be more profitable. The future of the program is uncertain as the Grants for Education, Support and Training's funding of the program will end in 1995.

TOUTLE, Wash. -- After finishing two years of college study, Dan Stauch took a job in the Green Mountain Sawmill and found it didn't require much paperwork. His reading skills [...]

HM Inspectors report that the Reading Recovery program of New Zealand is a successful tool in teaching slowreading six-yr-olds how to read. The program improved the reading abilities of 97% of the readers and consequently decreased the number of learners with reading disabilities entering high school by 50%. The result of the program which was initially administered in Surrey, England, turned out encouraging according to the report by the Office for Standards in Education. In view of these reports, UK is planning to import the program from New Zealand.