Apparently the schooling system has a lot to do with it. School finishes for most in year 10. To go on to year 12, students have to move to the city to complete their education at one of only 2 colleges.
No, that is false. The system is the same as the ACT, where most high schools end at year 10 and years 11/12 are at the colleges.
There are more than 2 colleges in the state. In fact, there are more than 2 uni campuses and more than 2 TAFEs as well.
Those stats don't indicate that half the population are completely illiterate, but that a large percentage of people are bad spellers and even worse at using grammar.
It's an attitudinal problem because often not enough value is placed on education. Some parents encourage learning and encourage their kids to explore the world but there is a whole other range of parents that teach their kids to stay close and that they don't need to waste their time with education. Some people have an irrational fear of their children moving away from them. Some parents fight for their children to work in the logging, wood chipping industry when said child is only an infant and is way to young to think about their future.
