Publishers, booksellers and schools around Australia are all in their various ways marking Indigenous Literacy Day today, in the hope of closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous literacy. Participating publishers will donate 5% of all takings today, as will participating bookshops. Meanwhile, schools around Australia are taking part in the Great Book Swap Challenge, among a swag of other activities, to raise funds for indigenous literacy programs.
Background information on the Indigenous Literacy Foundation website indicates there’s a massive gap in literacy skills between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. For example, by year 7 (or about 13 years old), only 15% of indigenous children living in remote communities can read at an acceptable standard.