Page 11 - Handbook for reluctant, struggling and poor readers

previous cycles (2012 and 2009). There are great gender differences in reading literacy. Girls performed
statistically better also in 2015 study, on average it was 27 points higher than boys in OECD countries. In
Slovakia girls scored 36 points higher. In the 2003 and 2012 cycles the difference was roughly the same
but in the last cycle it decreased by 11 points. As the difference narrows, we can see gradually growing
score in boys´ performance and lower performance of girls. In Slovakia the performance of girls fell by 12
points compared to the previous cycles.
According to the study conducted by State school inspection in Slovakia up to 71,3% secondary schools
have no strategy for development of reading literacy although according to the principles and objectives
of secondary education, systematic work with texts is part of education in Slovakia. The same study
emphasizes the importance of education of teachers. Education related to the reading literacy which is the
important competence in understanding all subjects across the national curriculum. Another fact the study
points out is that one of the main conditions for developing reading literacy is a book and an appropriate
library. However, results show that almost half of the schools do not have suitable premises for a library
and almost 24,09% of schools do not have a library at all.

ITALY

In compliance with the goals of Europe 2020 strategy,
the Italian government has approved a reform on our
educational system in order to shape and develop
common European core skills in education and training:
teachers should promote the acquisition of "key
competences" that the European citizen should possess
to meet the challenges of the ever changing and complex
world that surrounds us, for example by addressing
underachievement in maths, science and literacy through
effective and innovative teaching and assessment.
Therefore, our school, Liceo Scientifico "G. Seguenza",
has carried out an analysis which has revealed a growing
need for innovative teaching strategies in the field of
languages, specifically, reading skills are to be prioritized.
At the end of the year 2015, the Italian National Institute
of statics ISTAT published the annual results provided by
the survey conducted among the Italian population about
their reading habits. People aged 6 and over were
interviewed and 42% of them (about 24 million) stated
that they had read at least one book in the 12 months
preceding the interview for purposes other than school or
work. Compared to the previous year, the percentage is
stable, also considering the 2011 drop in reading habits.
9.1% of the Italian households do not own any books,
64.4% have 100 books at most. Gender differences are
still evident: women read more than men, indeed, the
figure for female readers was in fact 48.6%, compared to
35% for male readers. Book readers' share is over 50%
among those aged 11 to 19; it shows a decrease in later
age groups; the highest percentage of readers was found
among the 15-17 age group. School is not enough. Family
is a key factor: 66.8% of youngsters aged 6 to 14 with both parents who read books are book readers too,
vs. only 30.9% of those whose parents do not read books. Book reading is less widespread in the South
of Italy, where fewer than one out of three (28.8%) people has read at least one book. In Sicilia and
Sardegna, readers are 33.1%: an increase as compared to 31.1% recorded in the previous year. In
metropolitan centres book readers account for 51%, vs. 38.1% in areas with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants.
Data confirm that nearly one reader out of two (45.5%) is a "weak" one, having read no more than three
books in one year. The percentage of bookworms (people who read on average at least one book per
month) is 13.7% of the readers (they were 14.3% in 2014). 8.2% of the total population (4.5 million) read
or downloaded books or e:books, that is, 14.1% of those who surfed the Internet. Book reading and cultural
participation are interrelated: among book readers, shares of those who practise other cultural activities
and sports and surf the web are regularly higher than those of non-readers. Book readers also showed