Burnaby Neighbourhood House: 4460 Beresford Street, Burnaby, BC, V5H 0B8
Literacy Outreach Coordinator: 604-562-3447
literacynow@burnabynh.ca

UNESCO Literacy Levels

multiple national country flags waving on poles


Literacy is the ability to understand and use information in daily activities, at home, at work and in the community – to achieve one’s goals and develop one’s knowledge and potential. It is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use different types of information media associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning to enable an individual to achieve his or her goals, to develop his or her knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in the wider society. Literacy is not restricted to reading and writing but includes a host of related skills:

  • Oral Communication
  • Working with Others
  • Computer Use
  • Continuous Learning
  • Reading Text
  • Document Use
  • Numeracy
  • Writing
  • Thinking Skills

Visit UNESCO’s Education and Literacy Statistics page to find out more.