Anecdotal evidence from literacy educators sometimes suggests that many people can do well despite being illiterate; however, this perspective ignores the essential theory of literacy. This theory rests on the premise that the most essential difference between human beings and other creatures is the human ability to make "symbolic…

The following papers are included: "Seminar's Focus on Practice Puts Action on the Human Level" (Margaret Gayfer); "Literacy: What Do Definitions Tell Us?" (Carman Hunter); "The Practice of Literacy in the Netherlands" (Ella Bohnenn); "The Approach of Popular Literacy Groups in Quebec" (Louise Miller); "Perspectives and Lessons from the Adult…

This document presents an overview of support for economic development provided by the Swedish government to a variety of nonformal adult education programs in developing nations (mostly in Africa). The four sections of the report provide details of the following: (1) scope, objectives, and methods of Swedish development cooperation; (2) the…

In Malawi, adult literacy deserves immediate attention in order to promote health, family planning, and productivity. While policy commitment for adult literacy promotion has not been lacking, intensified action has been. In 1979 the government accepted the Unesco Mission Report to undertake a functional literacy program on the successful…

IN THIS ESSAY ON LITERACY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING NATIONS, THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF TIME PERSPECTIVES IN THE CHOICE BETWEEN FORMAL EDUCATION AND ADULT LITERACY IS VIEWED AS AN INHERENT ASPECT OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN POOR COUNTIRES. A CONSIDERATION OF THE RISE OF THE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL POWERS AND OF THE FEATURES…

The project was aimed at developing literacy teachers for the first phase of a literacy program sponsored by UNESCO in Tanzania. Some 204 volunteer literacy teachers were trained to teach in four pilot areas: Busega, Nansimo, Negezi, and Ihangiro. The focus of the project was to give cash crop farmers basic skills in reading, writing, and…

Efforts to design and plan demonstration and/or experimental projects were stressed at this Asian adult educator workshop on literacy and family planning education. Other objectives were to share experiences in preparing, producing, and using instructional and reading materials; to work out a basis for joint planning and pooling of resources; and…

The program of Literacy House in Lucknow, India includes training of personnel, preparation of materials, and sponsorship of a wide variety of programs. This report on their work, prepared to document the need for a budget request from the U.S. Agency for International Development, describes the achievement and prospects in programs relating to…

These conference papers on prospects for the future of Australian adult education concentrate on issues in rural adult education, postsecondary education by colleges of advanced education, international cooperation to meet the educational and related needs of developing nations, the future contribution of New Zealand universities to residential…

In Tanzania there is a shortage of books and materials from other countries, local adaptations and translations of these books and materials, and locally written and produced books and materials. The Tengeru National Community Development Training Center and the Rungemba Adult Center at Iringa need books for students and library as well as the…

The document was prepared as part of a UNESCO contract to train 16 counterpart officials of UNESCO-sponsored literacy projects. Functional literacy was studied in three parts, all dealing with the total planning process. First was project planning. Literacy projects must consider national educational plans and be related to relevant economic…

Worldwide, the absolute number of illiterate adults continues to grow. The following topics are discussed: those in need of literacy education; pre-literacy programs; the changing role of post-literacy efforts, i.e., efforts to help adults apply literacy skills; strategies for literacy campaigns; and illiteracy in industrialized countries. (RM)

The Strong Beginnings program, initiated by the Save the Children Fund in 1991, supports community-based activities in 20 countries aimed at reconstructing educational systems in developing countries. This report presents the vision of the Strong Beginnings program, describes its components, and describes the continuing challenge to improve access…

A study to examine literacy programs for women in rural villages in India interviewed all program directors and staff and some women involved in nongovernmental (NGO) projects in the Pune area. NGO officials were universally disenchanted with government programs. NGOs' goals varied from preschool education in the villages to agricultural reform to…

The Community Learning Centre Project has been approved within the framework of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL), and supports one of APPEAL's priority areas, community participation and ownership. Community learning centers, managed by local institutions outside the formal school system, provide literacy and learning…