Literacy in Trinidad and Tobago
ALTA NATIONAL LITERACY SURVEY 1994

View the Statistical Analysis

 

METHODOLOGY

A total of 1,868 persons over 15 were interviewed in 100 locations chosen by Market Facts & Opinions to represent the geographic distribution of the national population.

 

LITERACY CRITERIA

The criteria used for assessing literacy were as follows:

  • Functionally literate

      • Ability to read and answer two multiple choice questions and ability to read an instruction and to write a simple sentence in response.  (See questionnaire below)
       

  • Functionally Illiterate

      • Ability to perform at least one of the tasks in 1. above or read at least 3 out of these 5 words: TO,  AT,  LOVE,  BET,  SUN.
       

  • Illiterate

      • Inability to perform any of the tasks in the box or read at least 3 out of these 5 words, that is, unable to read or write English.
       
 

Questionnaire

    1.   Mark an ‘X’ in the box beside the answer which best completes the statement.
       
      To report a crime, you go to the                             
       

      1. Post Office

       

      2. Bank

       

      3. Hospital

       

      4. School

       

      5. Police

       

       
       
    2.   Mark an ‘X’ in the box beside the name of the third month of the year.
       
       

      1. June

       

      2. April

       

      3. May

       

      4. March

       

      5. July

       

       
       
    3.   What is your main reason for living here? Write your reason below in a full sentence.
       
       
       
       
 
     

MAJOR FINDINGS

Based on the criteria above, the literacy rate in Trinidad & Tobago is as follows:

Functionally literate 77%
Functionally illiterate 15% (118,000 adults)
Illiterate 8% (62,000 adults)
 

A profile of the functionally literate versus the illiterate person as a result of the survey is most likely to be as follows:

 

FUNCTIONALLY   LITERATE

ILLITERATE

LOCATION

·        comes from the North East or North West

·        densely populated

·        mid/upper income

·        lives in the Central or South region

·        less densely populated

·        low income

AGE

·        the younger the respondent, the greater the likelihood of literacy, whereas the older the respondent, the greater the likelihood of illiteracy.  The difference was most marked from age 45 plus.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

·        the higher the number of years of schooling, the greater the likelihood of literacy, whereas the lower the number of years of schooling, the greater the likelihood of illiteracy.

·        completed A level examinations/obtained a diploma

·        attended University

·        completed a YTEPP, Servol or other course

·        completed no exams

·        attended no school

·        completed none of these courses

GENDER

·        no significant differences between the genders, though there was a slight tendency to higher illiteracy amongst females.

ETHNICITY*

·        of African or mixed/other descent

·        of East Indian descent

RELIGION*

·        Belongs to the Pentecostal/Roman Catholic/Anglican/Muslim religion or other Christian religion

·        Belongs to Hindu/Baptist/Presbyterian religion

OCCUPATIONAL DATA

·        is working/has worked

·        is a working professional

·        is in a professional/administrative position

·        works in the manufacturing sector

·        has never worked

·        is keeping house

·        is a pensioner/retired

·        is a manual worker/tradesman

·        works in agriculture

READING & LANGUAGE PATTERNS

·        finds out about current events by reading newspapers/pamphlets

·        writes letters themselves

·        reads nothing

·        asks others to write their letters or writes none
*The higher level of illiteracy among Hindus and those of East Indian descent is due to the fact that they constitute the majority of the rural population.  Thus the factor which determines literacy level is location, neither ethnicity nor religion being causative factors in themselves.

 

 

UWI NATIONAL LITERACY SURVEY 1995

Summary of Findings

 

Literate Level 3 - High

45.2% Can read and write well enough to handle a wide cross section of everyday tasks, including reading the newspapers and medicine labels.

Literate Level 2 - Intermediate

32.7% Can cope with some everyday reading and writing but not all, e.g. cannot read and understand some parts of the newspapers and simple directions on a medicine label.

Literate Level 1 - Low (Functionally Illiterate)

8.7% Can read and write but so little that it hinders their everyday activities.

Illiterate

12.6% Unable to read and write.

 

 

Comparison of ALTA and UWI Surveys

 

Both the ALTA and UWI surveys agree that 22-23%, or 1 out of 4 persons in Trinidad and Tobago are unable to cope with everyday reading and writing.