A MAJOR drive to boost reading, writing and counting skills in the region is launched today.
The North-East has the worst figures for literacy and numeracy in the UK.
About 400,000 adults, more than a quarter of the population, do not have the reading, writing and basic maths skills necessary to cope in day-to-day life.
Get On North East, launched today at the Stadium of Light, in Sunderland, aims to get the region off the bottom of the literacy league.
Jonathan Blackie, the regional director of the Government Office for the North East, said: "I see better literacy, numeracy and English language attainment as a fundamental requirement to unlocking the North-East's potential.
"It is the foundation for the wholesale regeneration of the region; it is that important."
Twenty-eight per cent of the region's adults have counting and reading or writing difficulties, four per cent higher than the national average.
The initiative aims to bring the region in line with the national average for numeracy and literacy within three years.
It is being backed by 70 organisations, including trade unions and local councils.
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