A new survey of adult literacy levels in seven countries shows Sweden well out in front of other industrialized nations. Over 40% of Swedes aged 16 to 25 are performing at the highest levels of practical literacy, as opposed to only 23% in Germany and 18% in the United States.
The International Adult Literacy Survey, conducted in late 1994, tested nearly 21,000 people in seven nations for their skills in understanding and using prose and numbers, and in 'document' literacy - the ability to deal with the wide array of documents needed for everyday life in the industrialized world, such as tables, schedules, job applications, graphics, charts, and maps.
The tests, each lasting 45 minutes and involving more than 30 tasks of gradually increasing complexity, were specifically designed to measure and compare the literacy skills of people from different countries and cultures. Respondents were graded on a scale from 1 to 5.
Discounting Poland, the United States has the highest proportion of young people performing poorly in document literacy (level 1) and the smallest proportion performing well (levels 4 and 5).
Sweden is known for it's high taxation and public spending. Think their is any connection? They also have an essentially free healthcare system regarded by many as one of the best in the world.
[iIan, those fellas done my country this time eh?
Discounting Poland, the United States has the highest proportion of young people performing poorly in document literacy (level 1) and the smallest proportion performing well (levels 4 and 5).
Sweden is known for it's high taxation and public spending. Think their is any c ...[text shortened]... ealthcare system regarded by many as one of the best in the world.[/b]
Wes are proud of our reading and writing of the little blokes. Theys don't hafta stay on the farm until theys is about 12 years old and theys go to school nearly every day.
Be really stink if youse guys forgot us fellas again eh.