In a stark wake-up call, Andrew Kay, the CEO of the World Literacy Foundation, highlights the alarming decline in reading habits among children in the UK and that reading books is becoming somewhat of a dying art.
According to Mr Kay, 50% of British people have not read a book in the past 12 months, and digital devices are rapidly replacing traditional reading habits among children.
With the World Literacy Summit 2025 set to take place at the University of Oxford from April 6-9, Mr Kay is calling for urgent action to tackle rising illiteracy rates.
The summit will bring together 800 literacy leaders and experts from 85 countries to explore the impact of emerging technologies like AI, ChatGPT, and TikTok and discuss strategies to reverse the decline in reading both in the UK and globally.
“Foundational literacy and numeracy skills are critical for children’s success in school, employment, health, and overall life outcomes,” said Mr. Kay. “Yet, nearly 50% of children from low socioeconomic backgrounds in the UK are lagging behind in reading. The communities with the lowest life expectancy are also those with the highest rates of illiteracy.”
Globally, 770 million people are unable to read a single word, and in the UK, 8.5 million adults struggle with basic literacy skills. Illiteracy costs the UK economy an estimated £81 billion each year.
Mr Kay founded the World Literacy Foundation in 2011 after witnessing the impact of low literacy on his son, Trent, who faced challenges in developing basic reading skills. Through eight years of professional support, Trent gained the foundational skills necessary to work as a gardener at a school.
While Trent still struggles with complex words, he finds his mobile phone helpful for voice-activated messaging and texting.
The World Literacy Summit will explore solutions to these challenges, bringing together experts to discuss:
- The impact of AI, ChatGPT, and ‘BookTok’ on literacy
- Declining literacy rates in the UK
- The effect of reduced USAID education initiatives
- The link between literacy and economic prosperity
- Cultural and linguistic literacy preservation
- Learning disabilities and disorders
- Tools for underserved communities
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