| 20.12.02 news release
Recent research has found that, "Being more enthusiastic about reading and
a frequent reader, was more of an advantage on its own than having well
educated parents in good jobs."
This message provides powerful support for the approach taken by the National
Literacy Trust through its Reading Is Fundamental,UK initiative and the
DfES funded National Reading Campaign.
The Trust is concerned to break the cycle of underachievement among children
and adults. Through RIF,UK it aims to inspire children, primarily from non-book-owning
backgrounds, to read. This is achieved through offering free book choices
for children, parental support initiatives and motivational events. Since
its launch in 1996 RIF,UK has distributed 390,000 books to 130,00 children.
Neil McClelland, Director of the National Literacy Trust, says:
"The National Literacy Trust has always argued that homes with books, and
parents who encourage reading, can make a profound difference to children's
life chances. By providing the opportunity and the motivation via RIF events,
and by working to create a national culture that values the pleasure and
benefits of reading, this aspect of the Trust's work is placed at the heart
of national goals for better standards and a more inclusive society."
The research was conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD). Its Programme for International Student Assessment
(PISA) measures how well young adults near the end of compulsory schooling
are prepared to meet the challenges of today's knowledge societies. The
study covers 31 countries.
The most recent PISA study, Reading for Change, which looks at reading literacy
amongst 15 year olds, suggests that changing and improving students' reading
proficiency could have a strong impact on their opportunities in later life.
The research shows that levels of interest in and attitudes to reading in
their free time, and the diversity of materials that they read, are closely
associated with the performance of 15 year olds in reading literacy. The
researchers found that children from the most deprived backgrounds performed
better in tests than those from more affluent homes if they enjoyed reading
books, newspapers and comics in their spare time.
As the OECD report stresses: "Finding ways to engage students in reading
may be one of the most effective ways to leverage social change."
Reading For Change: Results from PISA 2000, is published by the Organisation
For Economic Co-operation and Development (2002)
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