Costs of reading... and not reading

According to the 1995 Census of Population and Housing data, the rate of illiteracy in Malta is 11.25 per cent. Moreover, in 2003 it was calculated that 48.2 per cent of those who completed compulsory school did not pursue further studies. With such a high percentage of illiterate people and early school leavers, Malta emerges as the country with the least educated/skilled labour force in the EU.

The government is neglecting this massive illiteracy problem. Not only are books - academic and non-academic - not being subsidised in order to boost the culture of reading, but additional taxes have lately been introduced. Is it not shocking that a book which used to be sold for Lm8 two years ago nowadays costs Lm11?

The introduction of an additional tax on books means that books are considered as a dispensable source of leisure which can be taxed without consequences.

If the government does not revise the taxation rate on books and academic materials our islands may soon be facing irrevocable consequences. Already we have the highest percentage of illiterate people in the EU. The culture of reading and the love for books cannot be promoted if pressure is not put on the government to reverse this tax.

According to the Lisbon European Council report (March 2000), the EU is optimistic that by 2010 there will be an update of skills by "increasing knowledge, especially in the IT sector, ensuring that the skills of the labour force correspond to the economic and technological evolution". Thus, reports such as that of the Lisbon Agenda take it for granted that the illiteracy problem is under control in the EU member states.

Is it not strange that even though literacy studies have been carried out among young children, the authorities have not yet done research on the illiteracy rate among older children up to 16 years of age? Would the results be too shocking?

The increase in the cost of books and academic materials will in the long run cost the educational system dearly. Someone has forgotten that only a culture of reading will ensure a better performance in education and a much sturdier labour force.

A government which on the one hand is reforming the education system and on the other has increased the cost of the very basic materials for a better education has brought about an absurd contradiction.