Child illiteracy : a school social work perspective

Abstract

A problem that all nations are facing is the problem of child illiteracy. In this regards our island is not an exception. In spite of our compulsory education system there is the risk that a certain percentage of children are still illiterate. Faced by this situation the responsibility falls on our society as these children are the future of our country. Being a small island, Malta has the human resources as its chief resources. To be fair one has to acknowledge the efforts done by the authorities to eliminate this problem and much has been done in this regard. However, child illiteracy is still persistent as we are still faced by school leaver with lack of basic skills in literacy abilities. The aim of this study is to explore how social workers can help in minimising this problem of children ending up with inadequate literacy skills. In fact school social workers through their competencies and skills often intervene to help children in their problems during their school years. One of these problems in which they could help is in fact child illiteracy. As part of this study, children, parents and teachers were interviewed. Through their various views why child illiteracy is still persistent, one tries to understand the underlying cause of this problem. Children who are at risk in being illiterate were asked what they think is taking place in their school and families. On the other hand, parents of the same children discussed in an open way with the interviewer what they think of the school personnel and their child's potentials.