Encouraging reading - Literacy is a human right

ANY society where up to a quarter of its teenage males are illiterate is on a slippery slope towards deep ignorance, exploitation and instability.

This shocking statistic is the most terrible indictment of our teachers, our schools, our educational system and the governments that allowed such a situation come about.

That we tolerate it is an indictment of all of us.

Some children fail to achieve basic functionality in reading or writing because of struggling schools or maybe a home environment either unwilling or unable to support them.

None of these excuses are good enough and let us hope the next minister of education has the force of personality needed to overcome this life-defining malaise.

Last night’s Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Awards and any initiative like it that encourages reading, in whatever format, is to be encouraged and cherished.

There is after all a reason why the pen is still mightier than the sword.