According to the CIA World Factbook, “over two-thirds of the world’s 793 million illiterate adults are found in only eight countries (Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan); of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, the Arab states, South and West Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, where around one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate.”

It’s compelling to note the countries listed on the CIA World Factbook that have 100% literacy rate are: Andorra (between France and Spain), Finland, Georgia (between Russia and Turkey), Greenland, Vatican City, Liechtenstein (between Switzerland and Austria), Luxembourg(between Germany and Belgium), and Norway.

In the report, and for the purposes of this post, literacy is defined as the ability to read and write.

In the United States, the literacy rate is at about 99% for both men and women.

According to a report issued by SJ2020, in the City of San Jose, About 40,000 students – nearly half of all public students tested – are not proficient in their grade level skills. About 2,300 middle and high school students drop out each year. These students are left with much fewer options and are more likely to be unemployed, rely on public assistance, and engage in criminal behavior.

Parents do not have to wait for school to start to introduce young children to literacy. Simply reading out loud is the best way to open the world of literacy to our little ones. At FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, we turn to SEEDS  (Sensitive, Encourage, Educate, Develop through Doing, and Self-Image) a curriculum developed by Kate Horst, author and parent. The essential piece of research issued by SEEDS’ is that children learn best when adults are sensitive and responsive to a child’s social-emotional needs as well as care about their educational goals and practice.