The author discusses factors inhibiting adult literacy in India, stating that institutional schooling has provided education for only a small percentage of the population. As an adult literacy curriculum depends on community needs, he suggests a core or minimum curriculum for adult basic education in the community. (MF)

Because of the significant political implications of first and second language policy, many decision-makers have been reluctant to review language policy in the context of literacy work. Issues that must be considered include the following: whether mother tongue literacy should be a precondition for introduction of a second language in…