STATISTICS OF ILLITERACY

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 22 June 1912, Page 9

STATISTICS OF ILLITERACY

The Education Bulletin published by the Commonwealth Statistican, Mr G. H. Knibbs, strikingly confirms the conclusion regarding the degree of illiteracy in the different States deduced from the number of marks used instead of signatures in the marriage registers. The bulletin shows that above the age of nine years there are 63,400 persons who cannot read the English or any foreign language. Of these 25,600 ai:e in New South Wales and 11,700 in Victoria. Relatively Tasmania is the most illiterate State, and Victoria and South Australia the least illiterate. In Victoria there are 1,103,428 persons who can read and write English, and 3897 who can readonly. Of those who can read and write a foreign language only there are 4237, and 598 who can read a foreign language only. There are 173,444 who cannot read at all, but 143,478 of these are under five years ©fag».