Illiteracy is a social and economic problem in South Carolina. In 1980, 445,202 persons in the state, 25 years of age or older, had less than an elementary school education. In relation to other states, South Carolina is ranked second according to the percentage of the adult population with less than high school completion. Statistics show that…

Findings and recommendations of the New York State Senate Committee on Investigations and Taxes are provided from an examination of adult illiteracy in New York State to estimate its extent and cost, to evaluate existing efforts, and to develop new approaches to reduce it. Findings show that there are approximately 2,040,000 functionally…

This study outlines some of the literacy problems of immigrants to Canada and the attempts being made to overcome these problems. The study first examines some of the popular definitions of literacy with a view to finding one that might be a goal for all illiterates in Canada regardless of their birthplace. Next, the latest data are analyzed to…

The result of a study on adult literacy undertaken by World Education, this book places the educational problem of adult literacy into the larger context of a changing society and offers a fresh perspective and a new way of thinking about the phenomenon. After defining functional literacy as the possession of skills perceived by particular persons…

This document is an English language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) of the Fourth Indian Five Year Plan Report, Chapter 15, which deals with Education and Manpower. India's tasks in providing educational facilities for children in the 6-14 age group are immense. Only about 60% of that age group are in school today. The Plan refers to this…

The four papers that make up this document report on poverty issues as they pertain to adults with learning disabilities. "Programmatic Response to Welfare Clients with Learning Disabilities" (Glenn Young) describes steps in the Learning Disabilities Initiative that works with federal agencies, states, local governments, and nonprofit…

A study was conducted to examine the literature on literacy and adult basic education and to identify various issues, trends, problems, possible solutions, and basic principles that might guide programs and policies in adult literacy and basic education in Canada. More than 120 documents were examined, raising such issues as what is literacy and…

Conference recommendations dealing with the following areas of adult education are presented: objectives and policies; needs of special groups; formal and non-formal sectors; the use of educational technologies; teacher training; illiteracy; international cooperation; development and research; and information dissemination. (RM)

This collection contains the texts of four draft papers and four responses that were presented at a symposium on defining literacy. The following papers are included: "Definitions of Literacy" (Richard L. Venezky); "Definitions of Literacy: Responses" (Reynaldo F. Macias); "Literacy for What Purpose?" (Larry…

Because the Reagan administration believes that the problem of illiteracy must be countered with strong action at all levels of government and education in concert with the private sector, President Reagan announced the Adult Literacy Initiative last September. The initiative, which is based on the premise that the private sector has a keen…

To clarify and examine conventional wisdom and stereotypes about adult literacy, this paper focuses on the approaches of individually oriented and community-oriented programs. An examination of the literature base (encompassing research reports, informal accounts, manuals and handbooks, and theoretical, philosophical, and policy articles) leads to…