[SoftballMominVA]

English readers do well on average but have more people in the lowest category, usually "functionally illiterate" than foreigners.
That's because low performing kids in other countries are sweeping floors by the time they are 12.

[Spellfix]

English readers do well on average but have more people in the lowest category, usually "functionally illiterate" than foreigners.
>That's because low performing kids in other countries are sweeping floors by the time they are 12.

But that is irrelevant. The Times report said Percentage of *adults* at lowest level. We still have more of those, even tho, as you mention, people in other countries often leave school earlier. (See post #103)