L’utopia di un’alfabetizzazione diffusa = The utopia of widespread literacy

Abstract

This paper analyzes the long and unfinished process of literacy in Italy, interpreted as a political and institutional utopia due to its evident criticalities and the risk of historical failure. A comparison of the 2013 and 2024 OECD-PIAAC data reveals that the level of core competencies (literacy, numeracy, and adaptive problem solving) among Italian adults remains significantly below the OECD average. Approximately 70% of the adult population falls short of the minimum threshold for functional text comprehension, highlighting a progressive decline in skills with age and the long-term ineffectiveness of the school system. From the unification of Italy to the present day, mass schooling has reduced instrumental illiteracy, yet it has failed to curb return illiteracy and the worrying spread of a pervasive and invisible functional illiteracy. To ensure a participatory democracy, it is essential to overcome rigid and standardizing educational models by promoting new language and lifelong learning policies aligned with the equity goals of the 2030 Agenda.