International Literacy Day - on September 8 - every year reminds us about the importance of literacy for individuals, families and societies.

In recent weeks, there have been a number of contributions in the media commenting on the state of literacy in Malta. The debate has been stimulated by the publishing of the Census 2005 results that, as expected, indicated an increase in the literacy rates of persons aged 10 years and over. While it is clear that the Census 2005 gives an indication, the results concerning literacy must be taken as a starting point.

It is clear that a more in-depth study of the levels of literacy in Malta and Gozo is required so that a clear picture is available for decision-making in this area. The general feeling among researchers concerned with literacy is that the information emanating from the census with regard to literacy does not provide enough depth. This is mainly due to the format in which the census questionnaires, focused on dealing with population and housing issues, present questions on literacy. Being able to read and write a simple sentence about your everyday life hardly makes a person literate in today's society.

Despite the decrease in number of illiterate persons over the past 10 years, illiteracy is still a major concern in Malta and Gozo. There are various instances in everyday life when we are faced with persons who are unable to understand the content of a letter, to find a number on the telephone directory or to complete a simple form. Unfortunately, there seems to be a worrying number of school leavers or relatively young people who also fall in the categories mentioned above. In all probability, most of these people have indicated that they are able to read and write a simple sentence about their everyday life. Can we, however, consider them as literate? By international definition as applied in the census, probably yes; by today's society standards, probably not.

Today's society is changing. This is mainly due to developments that have taken place in recent years and that are shaping the way we work, communicate and conduct our lives. In such a scenario, literacy assumes a new definition that is based on the changing needs of the citizens. The aspect of functionality comes into the equation. Citizens must be able to "function" in today's society.

Functional literacy, therefore, may be defined as a particular capacity and mode of behaviour: The ability to understand and use information (in its various formats) in daily activities, at home, at work and in the community - to achieve one's goals and to develop one's knowledge and potential.

It is therefore clear that differences in levels of literacy have an economical and social effect on citizens. Labour quality, employment, training opportunities, income from work and wider participation in civic society are all affected by literacy. Malta is certainly not excluded from such influences. It is therefore crucial that a National Adult Literacy Survey is carried out to provide decision makers and researchers with an in-depth analysis of the current situation concerning literacy.

This survey might be based on similar studies conducted abroad such as the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), which was a seven-country initiative first conducted in the autumn of 1994.

The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) was a large-scale co-operative effort by governments, national statistical agencies, research institutions and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The main purpose of the survey was to find out how well adults use information to function in society. Another aim was to investigate the factors that influence literacy proficiency and to compare these among countries.

A second and a third round of data collection of IALS were conducted in an additional 16 countries in 1996 and in 1998. Several thematic reports and international comparative studies were published following these second and third waves of data collection. In total, IALS includes literacy data pertaining to 23 countries or regions around the world (Malta is not included).

The results of such a survey will provide the necessary information to plan new literacy programmes and expand or modify existing ones according to the needs identified through the survey results. We need to know how many functionally-illiterate people there are in Malta and Gozo and act accordingly. It is useless harping about the need to increase competitiveness if we don't tackle the issue of illiteracy and, more specifically, functional illiteracy first.

One way of implementing literacy programmes across Malta and Gozo should be through the use of public libraries. Most decision makers still see libraries as playing a marginal educational and recreational role. Libraries should be in a position to assume a stronger role: that of lifelong learning centres and community information centres. In this role, they should actively commit time and resources to coordinating literacy programmes at all levels.

The Malta Library and Information Association encourages library involvement in literacy education as it is convinced that libraries have the potential to play a successful role. This, however, has to be complemented by a commitment by the government and the allocation of appropriate funds for the implementation of the suggested programmes.

In recent years, despite MaLIA's appeals, we have witnessed continuous cuts in the budget for libraries while the budget for education continued to increase. This may indeed send the message that the government does not see libraries as part of the educational system of our country.

It is important that we do not reinvent the wheel. We need to have a coordinated approach to tackle illiteracy. The first step is to acquire detailed information to quantify the problem. The next step should be to revise existing programmes and implement new ones, targeted at specific sectors of our society.

The available network of public libraries, in cooperation with school and academic libraries, should play a central role in the implementation of literacy development programmes. The sooner we dispel the myth that illiteracy should only be tackled through formal education, the better chance we have of successfully tackling this problem that, whether we like it or not, is a reality and needs to be addressed.

Mr Mizzi is honorary chairman of MaLIA.