OXFORD is to host a world summit tackling the problem of illiteracy in poor and developed nations.

It is the first time the global event has been staged, and comes as concerns are raised about the low levels of reading among children across the city.

The World Literacy Foundation is hosting the World Literacy Summit from April 1 to 4 at Oxford University colleges and premises.

Three hundred experts from governments, education and international development sectors drawn from 50 countries will work on improving international collaboration on literacy.

The foundation’s CEO Andrew Kay said: “Literacy is integral for people to gain employment, raise their income and positively impacting their society.

“If a person does not have the solid base of literacy and numeracy skills that so many of us take for granted, their opportunities in life are far more limited.”

Worldwide, 770m people are thought to be illiterate, and the economic cost is estimated to be worth up to 2.5 per cent of a county’s GDP.

Illiterate adults on average earn 30 per cent less than those who can read or write.

Mr Kay added: “This is the first time that a global think tank of literacy experts has been dedicated to collectively addressing the problem of world literacy and its link to poverty.”

Oxford educationalists have been invited to the summit.

The city’s seven-year-olds have among lowest levels of reading anywhere in England, prompting the county council to launch a 2012 drive to improve children’s performance.

The city’s 2014 UNESCO World Book Capital bid is also set to focus on boosting literacy in the city’s schools.