Under a new scheme, individuals across all age groups are set to receive training in media literacy and in combating misleading information. This is part of the objectives of Ireland’s freshly instituted strategy for literacy, numeracy and digital competency (covering the period 2024-3033), with the ambition of fully preparing the youth to thrive in an increasingly complicated and interconnected globe.
This strategy, a product of mutual collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Children, was rolled out by both Minister Norma Foley and Minister Roderic O’Gorman on a previous Wednesday. The strategy acknowledges the need for a greater emphasis on digital literacy, considering technology’s significant societal impact.
Although Ireland ranks highly in numeracy and literacy compared to other countries, nations like Finland have a stronger resilience to false information. Experts attribute Finland’s success to a committed initiative to educate students about the identification and effects of fake news, with a strong importance placed on media literacy in their preschool national curriculum. Ireland’s newly minted strategy aims to incorporate digital literacy into their educational system at an earlier point.
“As technology continues to progress rapidly, including the rise of social media, increasing online information sources and the creative emergence of artificial intelligence, students need to improve their digital literacy skills to fully participate and operate in the digital universe,” the strategy elaborates. In essence, digital literacy includes understanding digital citizenship, data privacy and the characteristics of safety on the internet.
Minister Foley admitted that while the digital domain offers “tremendous advantages”, it also presents challenges like misinformation and risks such as the use and exploitation of susceptible young individuals as “money mules”. She added that her ministry is positioning to include parents and guardians, alongside students, in these new plans as part of a greater effort to ensure society at large is better educated and capable of stifling disinformation.
Included in this will be the running of programmes through the Nation’s Education Support Centre network to aid parents in fostering and advancing their children’s digital literacy skills. The strategy is founded on research and consultation, capturing the perspectives of learners, parents, school staff, early learning and care environments and the broader public.
This new strategy envisages, “Every learner, from infancy to young adulthood, acquiring the essential literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills to not only prosper as an individual, but also to engage and contribute as an ethical, active member of society while leading a rewarding and fulfilling life.”
The objective is to facilitate a “systematic enhancement” in reading, mathematical, and digital literacy throughout the entirety of education, from early childcare to after secondary school levels. It also aims to bolster supports for the vital parts parents and communities perform in aiding the growth of a child’s numeracy, literacy, and digital literacy abilities.