The Right to Read Campaign
"Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right
and a responsibility. If our world is to meet the challenges of the
twenty-first century we must harness the energy and creativity of all
our citizens."
President Clinton on International Literacy Day, September 8th
1994
The Labour Party is launching a nation-wide campaign on Literacy. It is based upon the successful initiative launch by Councillor Aodhán Ó Ríordáin when he was Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin.
The Right to Read campaign is directed towards education in the community and uses the resources of our Local Authorities. Homework Clubs, Housing and Libraries are the key elements.
Children who go to primary school, must Learn to Read so that they Read to Learn when they move up to secondary school. It is estimated that 19% of secondary students drop out of school when they reach 15 or after their junior certificate. Most, but not all, do so because they have difficulty with reading and writing.
There are at least 500,000 (half a million) adults that are functionally illiterate. Many of these people are doomed to low incomes or long term unemployment.
Labour's Right to Read campaign is at the heart of our party's ambition and core values of democracy, equality and solidarity.
Ruairi Quinn TD - Labours spokesperson on Education.