Adult Literacy for Life Strategy Launch
Earlier this month, the government launched its Adult Literacy for Life – 10 year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital landscape and brought technology to the forefront of all aspects of day-to-day life, yet as the strategy details almost 1 in 2 (47%) adults in Ireland lack basic digital skills. This lack of skills not only prohibits them from accessing some everyday services, but also stops them from unleashing their full potential when it comes to employment, further widening the Irish skills gap.
The Irish Computer Society and ICDL Ireland strongly believe that digital literacy skills should be accessible to all, not only allowing adults across Ireland to fully participate in society but also to strengthen the IT workforce across Ireland.
Mary Cleary, Secretary General of the Irish Computer Society said: “Ireland has been at the cutting edge of the IT industry for many years, with a considerable credit due to the highly skilled workforce we have to hand. But there is still a skills gap, and as technology becomes pervasive in all sectors of our economy, we need to make sure that the pipeline of digitally competent people as well as high end IT professionals is strong. The Adult Literacy for Life Strategy published today is a positive move towards ensuring that Irish citizens in all corners of society have digital skills in equal measure with their literacy and numeracy skills. Technology is demystified and mainstreamed showing that digital skills provide not only pathways into satisfying careers, but general improvement to quality of life for all.”
Linda Keane, General Manager at ICDL Ireland also adds “We welcome today’s launch of the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy. Technology has increasingly permeated every corner of our lives since the start of the pandemic but as the strategy shows, 47% of Irish adults lack even basic digital skills, reducing their access to online services and resources. We consider it acutely important that all members of society are digitally literate to be able to fully take part in the opportunities our digital society and workplaces offer.”
