According to the article “Causes of Illiteracy” (n.d.) from Whatcausesit.net, learning disabilities, poverty and cultural influences are the leading causes of illiteracy worldwide. Determining why an individual is illiterate will require an investigation into his/her daily lifestyle, heritage, and background.
Neurologically based learning disabilities are not evident by appearance therefore they are considered to be hidden handicaps. Learning disabilities affect a person’s ability to interpret what is seen or heard, or the ability to associate information from different areas of the brain. An individual with a learning disability often keeps his/her condition as a secret. A specialized education is required for people with such disabilities. However, these disabilities can certainly be overcome, and to do so will allow a person to develop normally and have greater opportunities in life. According to “Causes of Illiteracy” (n.d.) from Thinkquest.com, these learning disabilities include:
· Dyslexia – is due to a signal-scrambling disturbance of inner-ear origin. It is not just characterized by reversals of letters and numbers.
· Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD) – is a disruption in the ability of a child to interpret and store information they head. It is not due to lack of intelligence or a hearing problem.
· Short Term Memory Difficulties – is a disability in your brain that causes you to have a hard time remembering things that aren’t repeated enough to be remembered long term.
Furthermore, it is said in the article “Causes of Illiteracy” (n.d) from Whatcausesit.net that poverty is often the underlying cause of illiteracy in many undeveloped countries, although there are no definite links between poverty and illiteracy. Poor communities lack funds for education. Underprivileged families have difficulty finding resources for survival hence their children have little chances of attaining education. Frequently, children can be found begging for money on the streets; an activity that keeps their families fed but also keeps them from becoming educated.
Environment is a huge factor when it comes to learning and children learn behaviors from the people around them. Parents who have good/ideal knowledge-gaining habits (such as reading) are setting a good example for their children, who will aspire to be like those they identify with most. On the other hand, parents with little education and no reading skills of their own will not have the knowledge to pass on to their children; most likely extending another generation of illiteracy.
Sources:
Causes of Illiteracy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.whatcausesit.net/causes_of_illiteracy/causes_of_illiteracy.html
Causes of Illiteracy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112734/page1.htm
Poverty, learning disabilities, and lack of literacy within the family/environment are indeed the major reasons of illiteracy worldwide. Among the three, I think poverty is the main reason why illiteracy is evident worldwide. Poverty means lack of resources, and lack of resources leads to lack of education. Almost (if not) everybody wants to learn, and lack of money is a very huge hindrance when it comes to attaining education. With the economic status of different countries in the world (especially the Philippines), it's no wonder that illiteracy is a global issue until now, and it seems like it's going to take quite some time before this problem can be properly addressed.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who's dyslexic and has a hard time to read things. She says the letters all comes up jumbled in her brain, making it much more harder to comprehend. I've never though of it as a cause of illiteracy though. Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteI feel sad for these people. Because of unwanted circumstances, most of them live in despair and they always struggle to fit in a society where education is highly valued.
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