importance of reading ability

reading - The great importance of reading ability is underscored by the growth of literacy programs in some Third World nations, as, for example, in Cuba. These programs, which generally send young people to rural areas to serve as teachers for illiterates in a national effort, often combine the teaching of reading with political instruction.
India
June 3, 2008 7:26am CST
Besides its intrinsic value, the ability to read has economic consequences. Adults who are better-than-average readers are also higher-than-average earners or are more likely to have high-paying jobs. The growing technicalization of society has brought increasing demands for literacy, which the schools are hard pressed to meet. A higher level of literacy is needed in business and industry, in the armed forces,and even in everyday life. The reading ability needed to comprehend materials important to daily living, such as income tax forms and newspapers, has been estimated to be as high as the 12th-grade level. Some efforts have been made to simplify forms and manuals, but the lack of sufficient reading ability definitely impairs a person's capacity to function in modern Western society.
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MichaelJay
@MichaelJay (1100)
•
3 Jun 08
I just listened to a radio discussion about mathematical ability and it was claimed that a person with a UK Maths A level exam would earn on average £160,000 more in a lifetime than a person who did not have that qualification. I hoever tend to agree that reading has to come first otherwise how would you be able to decipher complex maths problems or lessons?