08. 12. 08. - 15:00

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08. 12. 08. - 15:00

Illiteracy still a problem in Austria

Illiteracy is still a problem in Austria, with some 600,000 people allegedly unable to read and write well enough even though they have had a basic education.

A seminar of specialists in Burgenland capital Eisenstadt recently discussed the problem. Education manager Otto Rath said that it had been consistently underestimated.

"We must optimise our approach to target groups and be more-positive to avoid creating the impression that illiteracy is an illness. It affects a quarter of the population, and combating it must come to be perceived as something normal. If that happens, ways of solving the problems will be improved," Rath said.

Christine Teuschler, the manager of Burgenland’s adult-education centres, added that they were offering courses for adults in reading, writing and basic arithmetic.

"We are trying to make our offerings as flexible as possible in order to enable students to begin learning as fast as possible, first in individual and then in group instruction. It is important that people see they are not alone," Teuschler said.

The courses are free-of-charge and financed by the Burgenland government and European social funds.

Illiterate and semi-illiterate people have limited employment opportunities and are typically found in low-paying jobs and are constantly threatened by poverty.

Austrian Times

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