The absolute priority given by UNESCO to the promotion of universal literacy is understood as a key policy driver shaping the Organization since its inception in 1946. Grounded in human rights, the commitment has taken concrete form in many and diverse ways, but it is as a shaper of ideas that UNESCO's overall contribution is best judged. In…

Explores purposes of literacy education, ranging from the political imperatives of governments to the goals of literacy campaigns to the reasons why people want to be literate. (SK)

Since the 1965 Teheran Congress 0n functional literacy, 52 nations have asked to participate in the world program, and 38 of them have received planning and consultant missions from UNESCO. (LY)

Reports the major findings of a study that investigated the effectiveness of using pictures of different art styles (stick figures, faceless outline drawings, detailed black-and-white, detailed black-and-white with watercolor wash, and black-and-white photographs) with 423 new readers in Papua New Guinea. (JD)

Outlines some of the arguments that favor accelerating the development of the technology of readability in developing nations. (RB)

Studied the developmental impact of the National Literacy Mission of India, providing an evaluative account based on 97 evaluation studies. Compared findings with those from a 27-study synthesis of studies of effects of adult literacy efforts in Africa. Findings show the impact of literacy on the development of nations. (SLD)

THE METHODS DESCRIBED IN THIS HANDBOOK CAN BE ADAPTED FOR USE IN ANY LANGUAGE WHICH CAN BE WRITTEN PHONETICALLY. CHAPTERS COVER THE VALUE OF ADULT LITERACY, HISTORY OF THE ALPHABET, HISTORY OF METHODS OF TEACHING READING AND WRITING, PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING, SOUNDS AS SYMBOLS, LESSON CONSTRUCTION, LETTER CONSTRUCTION, THE METHOD OF TEACHING…

Based on past experience in adult education (largely literacy education) in Tanzania, a new approach is suggested. Adult education activities should be organized around skills which are reinforcing in their own right, such as masonry, mechanics, carpentry, or vegetable growing, and with immediate use in the post-training environment. Literacy…

The adult education movement in the Philippines consists of separate but interrelated programs of functional literacy promotion and continuing education which is focused on socio-economic and citizenship training. (Author/JB)

Literacy is not an end in itself; the real concern is that illiterate people do not have access to the knowledge and skills that can improve their situation. Literacy education should be tied to a process of economic development. (SK)

Mass illiteracy is recognized by many Nigerians as a debilitating malady that must be addressed if the nation is to make developmental headway. The Mass Literacy Campaign, launched to attempt to reduce illiteracy, has not made a significant impact because of poor planning, poor funding, poor programs, and inadequate staff. (JOW)

A description and evaluation of a training program for literacy teachers in a project closely connected with the development of agricultural vocational skills in Tanzania during 1969. (DM)