Book groups are gatherings of readers who aspire to remain lifelong learners. Educators who read and enjoy quality fiction and non-fiction contribute with confidence to the rich, literate environment of classrooms. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) expresses, through rich policy statements and other published works, the vital…

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)

Guidelines for eliciting useful feedback focus on planned opportunities, collection during programs, multiple methods, descriptive information, feasible changes, clarification from learners, investigation of prompt response to learner concerns, staff discussion, receptivity to change, and commitment of resources. (SK)

A national literacy effort built on participatory principles will require study of existing learner-centered theory and practice, resource development, research and development, training and networking, and careful planning. Literacy educators and learners must support each other to create a constituency for the participatory alternative. (Editor)

A collaborative, holistic, and integrated approach to workplace education is needed to deal with a complex workplace and world. Critical elements include financial and organizational commitment to education and training, comprehensive program evaluation, balanced emphasis on worker skills, a challenge to the deficit model, and alternatives to the…

The literacy problem in the Cleveland area and recommendations for dealing with it are presented in this booklet. Beginning with a definition of literacy and a discussion of the human costs and economic consequences of illiteracy, the booklet advocates reducing adult illiteracy, eliminating basic skills deficits, and improving communications…

College students involved in literacy education programs should be aware of who are involved in such programs, what the attitudes and agendas of each of the parties are, the resistance that the literacy programs might encounter, the uses of collaborative partnerships, and how to build collaborative partnerships, according to a study involving…

Learner-centered literacy programs in the United States have developed a range of participatory practices for instructional and management purposes. Participation can occur on a number of levels; learner participation can serve any of three purposes: efficiency, personal development, or social change. (Editor)

A literacy program incorporating adult learning principles was designed using functional materials and an appropriate methodology, and the feasibility of this program was assessed in an adult basic education setting. Analysis of achievement data indicated that the application of adult learning principles to adult literacy resulted in effective…

Participatory approaches to assessment evolve from reflection on current practice and raise broad questions about literacy teaching and learning that have implications for program development. A collaborative action research project involving literacy program staff and university faculty uncovers the conflicting ideologies surrounding literacy…

This conference report on adult basic education in European prisons contains the following introductory materials: a list of participants, the program, and introductions to the seminar by Frank Dunne and Pierre Freynet. "Keynote Address" (Robert Suvaal) discusses five items a prison educator must deal with: philosophy, position of…

This document contains a congressional hearing on S.1016, which would provide financial assistance for the establishment and operation of Literacy Corps programs. (The Literacy Corps would enlist college students to tutor in reading and math for 6 hours per week in a 10-week semester). Testimony includes statements and prepared statements from…

Core principles of successful workplace literacy programs are relevance, integration of literacy and job skills, flexibility, continuity, and shared ownership and accountability. Success often involves complex negotiations to balance needs of employers, employees, and educators. (SK)

This issue contains six articles, reports, and essays on planning and organizing nonformal education in the Asian-South Pacific area. A chapter reprinted from "Planning Nonformal Education" discusses the need for planning, past efforts, and five steps in a strategy suggested for planning locally-oriented and target-specific nonformal…

Estimates of the true extent of illiteracy among the United States's adult population vary widely. The Department of Education has estimated that there are 23 million illiterate Americans and an additional 46 million American who function only marginally in an increasingly technological society. Federal support for adult literacy began in 1965…