Economy
Children are reading and writing worse than ever. What does this mean for the labor market? ‘I did not pursue my dreams due to insecurity and shame’
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PISA results show declining literacy among Dutch youth, which experts warn could hinder economic growth by limiting access to complex, knowledge-based jobs. Formerly low-literacy Anita Mertens overcame these barriers to work in intensive care, illustrating the necessity of basic skills for professional advancement. With 39% of students scoring below functional levels, VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland officials stress that early educational deficits create lasting disadvantages on the labor market.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's