Literacy in Europe

During the past decade literacy has gradually become a major concern throughout Europe. Though there is a great diversity in both the distribution and degree of (il)literacy in different countries, there has been an increasing general awareness of the numbers of illiterates and the consequences of being illiterate for personal life. Apart from local literacy campaigns, in 1984 the European Community initiated a broader program to combat illiteracy in member countries. The emphasis of the integrated policy was on prevention, stressing optimal access to literacy education, including opportunities for preschool education. Gradually, attention was also paid to the reduction of illiteracy among adults. Initiatives began to focus on the functional dimensions of, and the personal needs for, literacy. It was also acknowledged that literacy programs should recognize the different realities of diverse groups of learners.