Search results
Some 12.6% of adults in Australia attain only Level 1 or below in literacy proficiency (a lower proportion than the average of 15.5%) and 20.1% attain Level 1 or below in numeracy (slightly higher than the average 19.0%).
In Australia, the total compulsory instruction time is higher, at 11 000 hours, over 11 grades. On average across OECD countries, 25% of the compulsory instruction time in primary education is devoted to reading, writing and literature and 16% to mathematics.
Roberts’ story and the statistic that around 44% of Australian adults don’t have the literacy skills needed for everyday life was no doubt shocking to many but it’s no surprise to people involved in teaching adults.
