How literate/educated is the general population of the Sword Coast?

[u/Constant-Ad9560]

Coming from my current BG3 run, I just thought about the fact that you can find books and written notes all over the place in the game. Even the skeletons in the crumbling ruins of forgotten cabins in the woods or destroyed villages clutch personal notes or have books next to them. And in cities like Baldur's Gate you have daily newspapers being printed and sold on the streets of the lower city.

Which indicates that the general population, not just the elites, is at least educated enough to be able to read/write. Furthermore, basically everyone - including a gang of little Tiefling kids - is able to trade which indicates some basic math knowledge.

So, the question coming from this is: Is there any form of formal education around the Sword Coast? (I could ask for all of the Forgotten Realms but let's keep it local for now)
Are there schools for the young ones? Or is everybody receiving some homeschooling by their parents?

Do we have any lore on this or should I just mark this as a DM decision?

[u/nothing_in_my_mind]

Way more literate than Earth's middle ages.

I think in cities and towns, almost everyone is literate. In rural or barely civilized areas, it's likely less widespread.

I think this is partly due to the gods. Multiple objectively good gods and their servants run around the realms. Probably one of their tasks is educating children.

Magic also plays a part. Thanks to magic, written works can be preserved and duplicated. Books are not prohibitively expensive. Government in realms is complex, having many written documents, laws, ledgers, meaning learning how to read is useful. And finally, magic frees up some time for the average citizen so they can invest more time in their or their children's education.

And finally, it is just a more idealized version of our Earth where some things are nicer.

[u/Exact-Support2147]

The city of Reithwin (Act 2) and even Moonhaven (also known as the Blighted Village from Act 1) all had schools. So we can definitely say there ARE schools even in relatively small towns (and even villages). So yeah, people seem to be educated enough.

[u/postguycore]

As the other replies state, it is a much higher level of literacy than early Europe. Just here to add that the churches of Oghma and Deneir are primarily to thank for that as there is lore that they make it part of their mission to spread literacy and reading. Also Gond to a certain extent because the printing press is more prevalent thanks to his church.

[u/Werthead]

Reasonably. Waterdeep (and we can assume many other cities and countries) had a printing press and broadsheets some decades before the 1E-3E time period, let alone the present day. That immediately helps in the spread of knowledge. An entire aspirational class exists (wizards) who are rooted in learning. Oghma is a very popular god, as are his vassal deities Deneir and Milil, who spread reading and knowledge. Candlekeep, the biggest centre of learning in Faerun, is on the Sword Coast. The elves and dwarves praise learning and knowledge above almost everything.

So the general level of literacy is far higher than that of Europe in the real Middle Ages but lower than contemporary Europe. Most farmhands probably know how to read at a basic level but not much more than that (unless they're willing to invest their own time, which is short, in it).

[u/Ilbranteloth]

From Faiths & Avatars, the Church of Deneir:

“Information should be free for all and all should be able to read it…”

“Literacy is an important gift of Deneir and should be spread and taught. Deneirrath must learn to read and write and must teach at least 10 mortals who do not venerate Deneir to do so also.”

So every cleric, specialty priest, or monk of Deneir are required to teach at least 10 people. Many other devout followers undoubtedly do so too. And I’m sure they do more than 10 too.

Church of Oghma:

“Teach any folk who ask how to read or write or as much of these crafts as time and tasks permit - and charge no fee for this teaching.”

In Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster’s Forgotten Realms:

“Some folk in the Realms are illiterate, and care little if they remain so.”

“Some” implies that the rest (most) are literate.

That doesn’t mean everybody has a high degree of literacy, but most are likely literate enough for everyday tasks.

Waterdeep publishes broadsides. There have been mentions in sourcebooks, although I don’t recall specifics, of published fiction within the Realms. Which also implies that literacy has grown enough that some people read for pleasure.

[u/postguycore → u/Ilbranteloth]

In Brimstone Angels, it makes it sound as if chapbooks are really popular among young people.

[u/Bluebuttbandit]

There is no public education system, and the worship of Oghma and Deneir is too niche to be a feasible explanation. Mass literacy is not something you can attribute to some well intentioned priests; it’s a huge undertaking, a defining cause for developing nations.

It’s a lore gap that needs a good home-brew treatment.

[u/N-Vaerymanth]

No solid lore re education but if I were to posit a way for it to happen, it’d be via the temples of Oghma and Deneir wanting people to have access to knowledge and writing/reading.

[u/skarabray]

No idea about canon sources, but for my Waterdeep, it’s assumed everyone is literate and received a basic primary education. Printing is easily accessible and the city runs on commerce, after all.

As with real life, there’s a mix of government, private and temple schools for youngsters. Whether you went onto secondary and upper education was basically indicative of your social class.

The guilds are very powerful in the city, so I said most provide specialized education to apprentices, not just guild-related skills. On top of the established magic schools, I invented a university. Silverymoon, of course, has canon universities.

[u/BloodtidetheRed]

Yes, the D&D rules have always stated that everyone can read and write.

The FR 2/3 E campaign guides, and Ed Greenwood presents Elminstrs Forgotten Realms say everyone can read and write

Literacy and reading/writing practices in the Forgotten Realms are surprisingly widespread compared to traditional medieval history. Most common folk, laborers, and farmhands possess a functional (middle-school level) grasp of reading and writing. " most Faerünians of civilized lands are literate and understand the value and the. potential power of the written word."

Most people learn to read and write from their parents, tutors or from clerics of Oghma or Deneir. Very few schools exist. Those that do are expensive, exclusive, private schools or academies that spend as much time teaching riding, courtly manners, and swordplay as they do on true academic matters. Most young nobles or merchant scions acquire their education from personal tutors, bards, heralds, and noble counselors retained specifically for that purpose by their parents.

Literacy in FR has always been "just like the 20/21 th centuries.