© Wikipedia
06. 09. 12. - 16:29
Young people often have reading problems
Reading weaknesses amongst young people in Austria is unusually high according to figures released by the EU Commissions PISA study.
Austria has the third highest number of young people with a reading weakness in the EU with 27.5 per cent of youngsters reportedly having problems.
Only Bulgaria with 41 per cent and Romania with 40.4 per cent of children having weaknesses came off worse than Austria.
EU Education Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou spoke today (Thurs) of a 'paradoxical situation'. Reading and writing in the digital world are more important than ever, she commented, adding "our reading and writing competences are not holding the pace".
Further investments in such competences are economically advisable and are important for the future economy.
EU Education ministers have set the target of reducing the number of 15-year-olds with reading problems by 2020 from 20 to 15 per cent EU wide.
Austria meanwhile has declined in the ratings since 2000. In 2000 reading weaknesses affected 19.3 per cent of youths in 2003 it increased to 20.7 per cent and in 2009 it was 27.5 per cent.
Finland has the least number of reading weaknesses with only 8.1 per cent.
