Education glossary

Adult illiteracy rate The proportion of the population over age fifteen who cannot, with understanding, read and write a simple statement about their everyday life and do simple mathematical calculations. Basic education Usually refers to 9 years of schooling - all of primary school and some part of secondary.   Illiterate A person who cannot read and write, with understanding, a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Informal education Literacy or skill-building programs based in homes, community centres or workplaces outside of school hours which usually to reach marginalized populations.   Literacy rates The proportion of the population who can, with understanding, both read and write a short, simple statement related to their everyday life. This estimate gives an indication of the performance of the national education system, including the quality of the teachers and support services.   Mother tongue The first language spoken in a person's home in their early or earliest childhood.   Net primary and secondary enrolment ratios The number of students enrolled in a level of education who are of official school-age for that level, as a percentage of the population of official school-age for that level.   Primary completion rate Primary school completion is the number of students successfully completing the last year of primary school in a given year, divided by the number of children of official graduation age in the population. It measures both the coverage of the education system and the educational attainment of students, giving a more accurate indicator of human capital formation and the quality and efficiency of the school system than gross and net enrolment ratios.   Primary School Usually grades 1-6, though it varies by country. Ages range from 5 - 12.   Secondary School Anywhere from grades 6 or 7 through 10 or 12, depending on the country. Ages range from 12 - 19.   Vernacular language The native language or dialect of a country or a place, usually the local language commonly spoken by people in their homes.