PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA 7 SEPTEMBER 1990
Prime Minister's Message for International Literacy Day,
8 September 1990
On the occasion of International Literacy Day in
International Literacy Year I call on the nation to work
together for literacy development. Our future depends on
becoming a clever country. No educational skill is more
fundamental than literacy. Literacy development needs to
occur throughout a person's lifetime. We all have more
complex reading and writing demands placed on us as society
becomes more technologically advanced.
The school system in Australia is one of the best in the
world and we will continue to improve it. Most of us
develop enough of a literacy base during childhood to learn
the extra skills we need as adults. However, some of us
experience difficulties during childhood and need to have
another chance when we become independent adults. Some of
us do not come from an English-speaking background and need
to develop literacy skills in English.
We all have a part to play in literacy development.
Responsibility lies not only with the education sector but
also with parents, community groups and industry. Australia
will also play its part in assisting with literacy
development in those regions of the world faced with greater
difficulties than our own.