UNESCO Day: from Tullio De Mauro's lesson to President Mattarella's statement
‘But where are the illiterate people? I never see any.’ This, recalled Tullio De Mauro, was how journalists and politicians often reacted when illiteracy in Italy was discussed. Yet, the linguist explained, the condition of those who cannot read, write or use information is very much present, even if it is often masked. Let us take a look at some reflections a few days before International Literacy Day (8 September), which this year is dedicated to the theme “Promoting literacy in the digital age”.
To understand the complexity of the condition of those who do not have sufficient skills for full citizenship, De Mauro distinguished three forms:
- Primary illiteracy: those who have never learned to read and write
- Returned illiteracy: those who have studied but have completely forgotten the skills they acquired
- Functional illiteracy: those who can decipher simple texts but are unable to use information effectively in their daily lives, at work and as citizens.
Three different faces of the same exclusion, which also coexist in advanced societies, often invisible because they are skilfully hidden by those affected.
President Mattarella's statement
In his statement for the 60th International Literacy Day, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, stressed the urgency of not letting our guard down: 'The high incidence of functional illiteracy, which affects a third of the adult population [...], continues to be a cause for concern. The presence of illiteracy among the immigrant population is also alarming. [...] The theme chosen for this year's Day is, appropriately, Promoting literacy in the digital age, inviting us to review the very meaning of literacy.‘
The UNESCO perspective
According to Enrico Vicenti, Secretary-General of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, ’we are talking about a fundamental human right that is indispensable for promoting communication between peoples." Without literacy, it is impossible to guarantee justice, equality, solidarity and peace. Vicenti also emphasised the decisive role of digital technologies: “Digitalisation is a great opportunity to promote literacy, but at the same time it adds complexity: we need to be able to distinguish credible news from fake news and ensure that it does not become a new tool for marginalisation”.
Data in Italy
According to Istat and Invalsi:
- 1 in 3 adults has insufficient literacy and numeracy skills
- In 2023, almost one in three pupils in the second year of primary school did not reach the basic level in Italian (32.8%)
- Only 45.9% of people aged between 16 and 74 have at least basic digital skills
- Among young people aged 25–34 with a tertiary qualification, the figure is 31.6%, well below the EU average (44.2%)
In the work of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, continuous training is central to combating functional illiteracy at all ages.
A few days before International Literacy Day, we ask ourselves: are we able to recognise a “functionally illiterate” person today, even when they hide their condition? Perhaps not. But this is precisely where the challenge lies: making the invisible visible and transforming it into an opportunity for growth for all.
We recommend reading the entire Conversation with Tullio De Mauro at the Mauri School for Booksellers (Venice, 2006), transcribed in Annamaria Testa's blog Nuovo & Utile. Almost twenty years have passed since then. It is a pity that no government officials were there to listen that day...
