Current low levels of literacy among some New Zealanders demand a solution.
Literacy is essential to function effectively in a democratic society.
All New Zealanders need good communication skills in English. English is essential for access to good jobs contributing to the growth of the economy. English provides access to crucial knowledge and skills in a computer age. Knowing more than one language gives insight into more than one culture. Developing relations with Asia means we need more New Zealanders who can speak Japanese, Indonesian, Chinese and Korean, and more who can relate well to people from other cultures.