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London daily to expose capital’s literacy ‘crisis’

 

The London Evening Standard has launched a campaign to help tackle what it calls the capital’s illiteracy ‘crisis’ after revealing that one in three children does not own a book.

Last year the newspaper launched an anti-poverty drive with the aim of raising £1m for London’s poorest communities.

It ended up raising £5m, and winning plaudits from David Cameron and Prince William.

Now the Standard is hoping for a similar impact with its latest campaign to highlight the problems of illiteracy.

Figures obtained exclusively by the newspaper have shown that:

* 1 in 3 children in London do not own a book.

* 1 in 4 children in London leave primary school at 11 unable to read or write properly.

* 1 in 5 leave secondary school without being able to read or write with confidence.

* One million (or one in six) working adults in the capital cannot read with confidence.

    The findings were published in a week-long series of articles in the paper last week.

    Standard editor Geordie Greig told HTFP: “The response to the campaign by the London Evening Standard which highlights the crisis in literacy in the capital has been overwhelming.

    “Teachers, parents, captains of industry, writers and school children have been shocked and moved by the lack of reading ability by so many children.

    “We are determined to go on highlighting this scandal and to urge those in authority to bring about change.”