Illiteracy has traditionally been viewed as largely a third world problem. However it is becoming apparent that in countries such as the USA and Australia, illiteracy is on the increase. It is true that (illiteracy) is becoming a serious problem in industrialised nations. This is surprising as most people think that this is a problem only in under-developed nations such as in parts of Africa and India. Illiteracy is related to many other problems such as (poverty), over-population and governmental corruption. Let us take a more detailed look at the causes of this growing problem in many Western nations. One of the most (obvious) reasons for the increase in illiteracy is the (advent) of television. Children no longer have to read to obtain information. Neither do they have to read to relax. Today children get home from school and go straight to “the box” to watch their favorite program. Watching television is much easier and more exciting than reading. Another reason for the increase in illiteracy is the fact that so many women work. This means that children are often alone at home and so they are unsupervised. When parents get home they are often too tired to spend quality time with their children. It is also true that many people blame schools for the (decline) in illiteracy. In many countries there has been a move away from teaching basic skills such as reading and writing. There are many effects of this growing illiteracy rate. The most obvious is (unemployment). This may in turn lead to alcohol and drug (abuse). Ultimately the economy of the country begins to suffer and there is a drop in living standards. To address this problem, parents need to become more aware of their (responsibilities) and schools need to consider a change in their teaching methods. If this worsening trend is not (reversed), the problem of illiteracy will become very serious.
