Literacy and the Standard of Living in Latin America Unit 6 Notes

What is Literacy Rate? n A literate person is one who can read and write. n Major factor in whether a person can get a job and be successful in the workplace. n A country’s literacy rate is the percentage of the population over age 15 that can read and write.

Literacy in Latin America n The countries of Latin America have improved the literacy rates of their people in the past decade. n On average, 89% of Latin Americans are literate. –Unfortunately, this means that the illiteracy rate is 11%.

n The standard of living (“economic level” achieved by a person, family, or country) is often higher in countries where the literacy rate is high. High Literacy Rate = High Standard of Living

Boys Vs. Girls n In some Latin American cultures, it’s more important for boys to have an education than girls. –They believe that it is not as important for girls to learn to read/write as it is for boys. n Literacy Rates in the Region: –Girls: 88% Boys: 91% n In some countries, the difference between boys & girls is much larger.

n The goal of every country is to have 100% literacy rates among its people. n One reason that many people cannot read/write is that their communities cannot afford to pay for teachers or schools. n Many governments, missionaries, & aid groups come to the poorest countries in Latin America & are assisting the people in educating their children.

Cycle of Poverty n Having basic reading & writing skills is very important –Without skills, workers are stuck in the lowest- paying jobs n A cycle of poverty can develop when people cannot get an education… –Uneducated are forced to get low-paying jobs, so they cannot get enough money to pay for their children’s education…cycle continues for generations n The standard of living remains low for these families because their education level is low