This is a presentation of two approaches to literacy, with some statistical numbers of Colombia

1. APPROACHES TO LITERACY Enrique Arias Castaño

9. Literacy from a cross-disciplinary perspective Literacy theory Research practice language education anthropology sociology history psychology Literacy is a socio-political construct as much as a linguistic one

10. A theory of language in context Language as text as social process language language as social practice

14. Percentage of illiteracy in Colombia

15. according to the real performance of literate people in our country, what might have been the conceptions of literacy inherent in the implemented literacy programs in the latest years?

16. Statitics from Unicef: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/colombia_statistics.html Education Youth (15–24 years) literacy rate, 2000–2007*, male 98 Youth (15–24 years) literacy rate, 2000–2007*, female 98 Number per 100 population, 2006, phones 64 Number per 100 population, 2006, Internet users 14 Primary school enrolment ratio 2000–2007*, gross, male 117 Primary school enrolment ratio 2000–2007*, gross, female 115 Primary school enrolment ratio 2000–2007*, gross, male 89 Primary school enrolment ratio 2000–2007*, gross, female 88 Primary school attendance ratio 2000–2007*, net, male 90 Primary school attendance ratio 2000–2007*, net, female 92 Survival rate to last primary grade (%); 2000–2007*, admin. data 82 Survival rate to last primary grade (%); 2000–2007*, survey data 89 Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000–2007*, gross, male 78 Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000–2007*, gross, female 87 Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000–2007*, net, male 62 Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000–2007*, net, female 69 Secondary school attendance ratio 2000–2007*, net, male 64 Secondary school attendance ratio 2000–2007*, net, female 72