The UNESCO Institute for Statistics has outlined methodological and practical challenges of measuring literacy and numeracy worldwide, as a basis for understanding progress toward SDG 4 on education.
The Institute explains that a comparable and universally adopted definition of literacy and numeracy is needed to assess progress toward SDG target 4.6.
UIS reports that no common standards are being applied, and existing methodologies could prove difficult to administer in medium to low-income contexts.
29 August 2018: The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) has outlined the methodological and practical challenges of measuring literacy and numeracy worldwide, as a basis for understanding progress toward SDG 4 (quality education). The Institute highlights the need for a comparable and universally adopted definition of literacy and numeracy, in order to assess progress towards SDG target 4.6, which seeks to ensure that youth and adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy skills.
UIS is the custodian agency for the SDG global indicator 4.6.1, which refers to the proportion of a population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional literacy and numeracy skills, by sex. UIS reports that no common standards are being applied. Furthermore, existing methodologies could prove difficult to administer in medium to low-income contexts.
In a blog post, UIS Director Silvia Montoya refers to various assessment frameworks that are in use, and outlines several options for SDG monitoring. She explains that UIS is working with partners through the Global Alliance to Monitor Learning (GAML) to expand the reporting options for countries, including consideration of the UIS Literacy Assessment and Monitoring Program (LAMP), which was designed and field-tested for use in poorer countries.
UNESCO has previously proposed a more complex definition of literacy that looks beyond the ability to read and write a simple sentence, to consider how individuals create, interpret and use printed and written materials in various contexts. UIS also has produced a guide to the SDG 4 indicators, a global report by region and country on performance against SDG 4 indicators, and a website providing country profiles, open-source data, and data visualizations. [UIS blog site]