A study determined the causes of adult literacy and illiteracy in Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada) as perceived by those in a position to set literacy policy, and used Statistics Canada data from a national adult literacy survey to critique some of these perceptions. Data for the first objective was gathered from a sample of 67 individuals…

Information is presented in recognition of the United Nations General Assembly proclamation of 1990 as International Literacy Year (ILY). It is shown that, in 1985, there were an estimated 889 million adult illiterates in the world (more than 25% of the adult population), and more than 100 million children of primary school age in developing…

Three conceptual issues form the basis for coping with technical problems of gathering data on literacy: (1) the definition of literacy; (2) choice of criteria that can be used in properly assessing and measuring literacy; and (3) conflict between the importance and necessity of literacy assessment and the difficulty of fulfilling the prerequisite…

This document provides information and ideas intended to assist the ministers of education and those responsible for economic planning in the Arab States in deliberations and the formulation of recommendations. After an introduction, chapter 1 briefly reviews the achievements of the first four conferences, summarizes developments, and outlines…

Far too few people are able to achieve literacy, with greatest inequalities found between industrialized and developing nations. Gaps are found within each country, including Sweden, where all have the same formal right to knowledge, but in practice, social class distinctions differentiate individuals. Sweden has a common goal of an increased and…

The cost of illiteracy to Canadian society has been estimated at $10 billion per year, the cost to business at $4 billion. In addition, there are human and social costs upon which it is impossible to place a dollar value. Human costs are stress and low self-esteem, worse health, lower income, and inability to participate fully in social and…

A Toronto (Canada) study explored how low levels of schooling and literacy affected access of Latin-American adults to aspects of everyday life. Subjects were nine Spanish-speaking men and women, most with little or no formal schooling and varying levels of Spanish literacy. Analysis of data gathered in interviews revealed that the individuals…

An exploratory study of the feasibility of the Language Experience Approach (LEA) for teaching reading to semi-literate students of English as a second language (ESL) is presented. The instructional approach uses knowledge and interests from the students' own experience as the basis for teaching reading comprehension. The method was used with two…

A University of Massachusetts program, "A Model to Recruit Illiterate Adults to Adult Basic Education Programmes," is described, with the potential and requirements of radio and television publicity examined. Fundamental problems involved with the stigma of illiteracy are discussed as they are experienced in the United States and in developing…

The introduction of Open University educational television programming in Great Britain has contributed greatly to more effective industrial and technical education. Target audiences include married women, illiterate adults, Asian immigrant workers, and those changing jobs in mid-career. (MW)

The major theory examined in this paper is that the increasing problem of illiteracy in the United States may be due to a faulty method of teaching reading. The causes of the illiteracy problem and possible solutions are explored using evidence from reading research and classroom results. The following topics concerning the teaching of reading are…

Adult education is an umbrella concept under which come various dimensions, including adult literacy, adult basic education, continued education, continued professional education, and adult vocational education. To be effective, an adult educator must realize that: (1) adults learn differently than children do; (2) adult education must develop…

In 1981, some 12,500 British 23-year-olds were interviewed in a survey carried out by the National Children's Bureau as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. A small part of each interview dealt with the respondent's experience of literacy and numeracy problems. Results demonstrated that a substantial number of the young adults had experienced…

This handbook is designed to provide a comprehensive reference source about adult illiteracy for Michigan public librarians, whether or not they currently work with local literacy councils. Introductory material provides listings of members of the Michigan State Legislative Council and Library of Michigan Board of Trustees, and a listing of the…

This statement of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, focuses on the approaches that provincial ministers have taken to address the problem of adult illiteracy. First, it sets out concisely the nature and extent of functional illiteracy in Canada. Second, it describes a sample of the initiatives already under way to create effective…