1. Literacy and the Standard of
Living in Latin America
Unit 7 Notes

2. What is Literacy Rate?
 A literate person is one who can read
and write.
 Major factor in whether a person can
get a job and be successful in the
workplace.
 A country’s literacy rate is the
percentage of the population over age
15 that can read and write.

3. Literacy in Latin
America
 The countries of Latin America have improved
the literacy rates of their people in the past
decade.
 On average, 89% of Latin Americans are
literate.
– Unfortunately, this means that the
illiteracy rate is 11%.

4.  The standard of living (“economic
level” achieved by a person, family, or
country) is often higher in countries
where the literacy rate is high.
High Literacy Rate = High Standard of Living

5. Boys Vs. Girls
 In some Latin American cultures, it’s
more important for boys to have an
education than girls.
– They believe that it is not as important for
girls to learn to read/write as it is for boys.
 Literacy Rates in the Region:
– Girls: 88% Boys: 91%
 In some countries, the difference
between boys & girls is much larger.

6.  The goal of every country is to have
100% literacy rates among its people.
 One reason that many people cannot
read/write is that their communities
cannot afford to pay for teachers or
schools.
 Many governments, missionaries, & aid
groups come to the poorest countries in
Latin America & are assisting the people
in educating their children.

7. Cycle of Poverty
 Having basic reading & writing skills is very
important
– Without skills, workers are stuck in the lowest-
paying jobs
 A cycle of poverty can develop when people cannot
get an education…
– Uneducated are forced to get low-paying jobs,
so they cannot get enough money to pay for
their children’s education…cycle continues for
generations
 The standard of living remains low for these
families because their education level is low