Chapter 10: Education - Equality and Human Rights Commission

Chapter 10: Education 355
When education levels and English as a first language are controlled for, some
differences remain by ethnicity. Being in a Black or Asian ethnic group is strongly
correlated with poorer literacy skills, in particular for women. Black men are more
likely to lack basic numeracy skills than any other ethnic groups, or those with a
learning disability. 148
Gender and ethnic differences in literacy levels are related to age as Figure 10.6.3
demonstrates. With the exception of Black Caribbean/Black African women, ethnic
minority people over the age of 45 appear less likely to reach functional literacy.
Figure 10.6.3 Percentage not reaching functional literacy by gender,
ethnicity and age in England, 2003 149
Percentage
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
16-24
25-44
45+
16-24
25-44
45+
16-24
25-44
45+
16-24
25-44
45+
16-24
Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female
White
Indian/
Bangladeshi/
Pakistani
25-44
45+
16-24
Gender, ethnicity and age
25-44
45+
Black Caribbean/
Black African
16-24
25-44
45+
16-24
Other
25-44
45+
Chapter 10
Source: Data tables provided by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
A study in 2004 into the literacy of Gypsies and Travellers found that 21% of men
and 9% of women could not read at all, and 14% of men and women could not
write anything. As with the rest of the population, there was a cohort effect, and
younger men and women were more likely to be able to read and write. 150
Almost twice as many ethnic minority respondents in Wales failed to achieve
functional literacy, compared to White respondents (41% compared to 24%). 151
148
Grinyer, J. 2005. Page 20.
149
Equality and Human Rights Commission analysis of Skills for Life survey data
provided by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
150
Cemlyn, S. et al. 2009.
151
Equality and Human Rights Commission analysis of Basic Skills Survey data
provided by the Welsh Assembly Government.