Notes that college students in Kenya recalled more radio news stories than did adult illiterates, tenth grade students, or adults with less than a college education and that comprehension was also lower for the illiterate adults. (Author/FL)

The education of children of urban slum dwellers is adversely affected by the poor educational and economic conditions of their parents. Any attempt to improve the education of these children must deal first with parental attitudes, educational motivation, and illiteracy. (SK)

Describes a proposed national crusade in Iran designed to achieve by 1988 at least 85 percent literacy within the age group 7 to 50 years. The crusade is discussed in terms of mobilization of illiterates and social change agents, organization of the crusade, educational approaches, basic education objectives, changes in knowledge and behavior, and…

Discusses the need for nonformal education curriculum development for illiterate Indians in the 15-25 age group. Certain characteristics of this group are noted and curriculum development is discussed in terms of definition, components, objectives, content, methods, and evaluation. (SH)

Discusses illiterate and semiliterate adults who want to become literate to enjoy a more satisfactory quality of life. Describes their life experiences and provides examples of effective instruction methods based on the language experience approach, including dictation, word banks, journal writing, individualized and assisted reading, and…

Goals, content, methods, and outcomes of adult education differ according to state policy and characteristics of the political regime. In the 1980s, Mexico represented a "corporatist" state undertaking an incremental approach to literacy provision for purposes of political legitimation and social integration, while Nicaragua represented…

The Inmate Editor of "The ECHO," a newspaper for 50,000 inmates in the Texas Prison System, describes teaching an illiterate young prisoner to read and write; states that the majority of inmates are barely literate; and urges teachers never to discount their own impact as role models and to infect children with the desire to know. (MLF)

A diverse group of 27 adults completed 100 hours of computer-assisted reading instruction. Reading gains ranged from 0.4-7.5 grade levels and were greatest for subjects with a minimum pretest second grade reading level. Participants indicated the importance of skilled and empathic support from staff. (SV)

Examines literacy education in Iran, including educational objectives, content, student characteristics, teacher selection, textbooks, and obstacles to success. Concludes that Iranian literacy education is limited to reading, writing, and arithmetic, with no additional training aimed at functional literacy; and serves principally as a…

Examines adults in postliteracy programs in Northern Tanzania, focusing on reading and writing abilities after five years of training; the role of radio, rural newspapers, and libraries in literacy; and adults' interest in postliteracy materials. Points to the continuing importance of the oral tradition and lack of adequate reading material as…

Critique on two overstatements about literacy: the illiteracy problem is much worse than many people think and is getting worse; and literacy development is both the cause and the solution to many social problems and will lead to economic development. Explores issues in literacy education such as skills versus processes, standardized testing,…

Reports on the first New York Literacy Vision Screening, which investigated whether illiterate adults enrolled in illiteracy programs might have undetected visual problems that were interfering with their quest for literacy. Finds a startling 66 percent with vision problems. (SR)

Summarizes results of UNESCO's review of estimates and predictions of literacy in light of new data and revised methodology. Analyzes past trends in literacy, illiteracy rates, and prospects for future development. Suggests that the target year 2000 seems unrealistic for those most disadvantaged. Includes breakdowns for disparities by sex, age…

Argues that metaphor, as it thrives in fiction and poetry, is relevant and even essential, to adult-literacy theory and practice. Argues that the concrete poetic images, metaphors, and stories literacy educators learn from students should help shape their theoretical discussions of adult literacy; and likewise, once learned, these should be the…

Discusses the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s: the context of the time, its educational programs, instruction, teachers, and how it handled the problem of illiteracy. Examines whether this kind of program would work in the 1990s, concluding that many of the programs components would transfer well to the present. (SR)