Understanding the Meaning of Literacy beyond the 3Rs: Literacy and Paradigms of Development

Abstract

Traditionally, literacy is still universally defined as the ability to read, write and
compute numeracy (3Rs). However, the meaning of the term has changed overtime due
to dramatic changes in the area of social, economic, political and ecological changes
taking place across the globe to a range of more complex and diverse skills and
understanding. It is against this background that this paper examines the concepts of
literacy and development, literacy beyond 3Rs: Literacy and development; literacy and
lifelong learning; literacy and social change; literacy and cultural development; literacy
and internet; literacy and politics; literacy and human right; literacy and employment
generation and literacy and conscientization. On these bases, the authors recommended,
among others, that government at all levels should create an enabling environment
through the provision of adequate funding, materials and facilities required to educate
adult members through literacy education in order to contribute to the development of
their immediate environment and the country at large.