Latvian Adults' Digital Literacy Skills Fall Short according to OECD Survey
Latvia's cognitive abilities among adults are declining rapidly, according to a comparison with other OECD countries. This trend, which increases the risks of related diseases like dementia, has raised concerns among policymakers and education experts.
Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis believes it is crucial for Latvia to improve the basic skills of its citizens, including literacy and numeracy, to adapt to the changing environment. Gundars Bērziņš, Rector of the University of Latvia, agrees, stating that lifelong learning should be part of a country's public education strategy.
The study reveals that older adults (55-65 years) in Latvia performed lower than other age groups, with the age group 25-34 years scoring highest. This is concerning, as nearly a quarter (24%) of Latvian adults have low levels of numeracy, and approximately 34% have low text literacy skills. Around 35% of Latvian adults also have low adaptive problem-solving skills.
Agnese Dāvidsone, Rector of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, sees a major problem in Latvia: the difficulty of reaching underskilled groups with additional learning opportunities. She emphasizes the need for society to recognize the value of lifelong learning.
The importance of "soft skills" such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and effective communication is growing, according to Valainis. He also stresses the importance of improving digital and technical knowledge, as the advent of digital transformation and artificial intelligence is causing a fundamental shift in the labor market, requiring ever higher levels of competence.
By 2030, the Ministry of Economics predicts a shortage of approximately 10,000 STEM-educated graduates in Latvia. This underscores the need for a workforce with strong literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to fill the gap.
Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša stated that education in Latvia has not had value for a long time. Dāvidsone also expresses concern about the potential impact of political pre-election communication on the public's information handling skills and the development of democracy in Latvia.
These skills are particularly valued in remote working environments, as mentioned by Valainis. As Latvia navigates the digital age, improving adult education, particularly focusing on literacy, numeracy, and digital skills, is essential to strengthen Latvia's labor market adaptability and broader economic development.
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