The fact that women constitute two-thirds of the world's non-literate population has been a cause for concern for several decades. Despite a number of high-profile literacy interventions specifically targeting women--including UNESCO's LIFE initiative--the disparity between male and female literacy rates persists in many countries of the world…

Delaying girls' early marriage is a critical public health and education goal in developing countries, in which their own or their mothers' education may play an important role. This paper reviews the existing evidence of any relationship between girls' schooling or women's literacy education and delayed marriage for themselves or their daughters.…

UIL has published a second edition of a collection of case studies of promising literacy programmes that seek to empower women. "Narrowing the Gender Gap: Empowering Women through Literacy Programmes" (originally published in 2013 as "Literacy Programmes with a Focus on Women to Reduce Gender Disparities") responds to the…

This paper explores how literacy learning can support women's empowerment and the development of greater equality, benefitting not only individual women, but families, communities and economies too. It describes and reflects upon some of the most promising approaches to developing literacy and learning for women, who form the majority of the…

Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning and a crucial element in the universally recognised right to education. However, illiteracy continues to exist as a global challenge, and many individuals still lack the basic literacy skills that are needed to engage in further learning opportunities and for the economic and social development of…

Latin American women are examined in terms of their traditional, economic, and educational roles, and functional literacy programs in Ecuador and Venezuela are described. (LH)

A discussion of education and educational opportunities for women in Arab States includes formal education and literacy (examining formal education, primary school enrollment, and women's illiteracy) and non-formal education (examining a Saudi Arabian literacy program, joint action by Arab States, and the Arab Literacy and Adult Education…

Paper presented at a seminar on Education of Women and their Role in the Second Development Decade, New Delhi, Jan. 11-15, 1971. Discusses the high rate of illiteracy of women in various parts of the world and offers suggestions on how to reduce the rate. (RB)

An educational program designed to give practical information and skills to rural village women in Upper Volta is described. (DE)

Chief concern of the Women's Programme of Africa has been the participation of women as human resources in the process of development. Limited educational/training opportunities have existed for women; necessary strategies identified were vocational education training programs evaluation, literacy programs review, study of girl school-leavers, and…

Providing an overview of women's role in national and economic development, particularly in Africa and Asia, the article touches upon women's participation in employment, vocational training and education, agriculture, and other aspects of progress in developing nations. (MW)

This report examines why women in rural areas encounter particular difficulties in gaining access to out-of-school education. The report, based on a survey of UNESCO members, first attempts to describe the characteristics of rural areas, the size of their population, and the reasons for and the scope and impact of the exodus from the countryside…

In societies with rich oral traditions in which knowledge and wisdom are transmitted by way of mouth, through recitation, song and drama, the inability to read and write does not mean ignorance or lack of intelligence. Literacy is, however, essential for gaining legal and socioeconomic rights. Literacy campaigns should therefore involve changing…

Women in development refers to the needs and problems of women in developing countries and the responsibility of industrialized countries to ensure that aid programs serve the best interests of these women. A concern of adult educators is the relationship between adult education and the challenges facing women in the development of their…