The purpose of this descriptive case study was to identify teacher strengths and needs to create a site-specific professional development program for literacy. I was interested in studying how to identify teacher needs and strengths and explore the compatibility between teacher beliefs, current practice, and best practices in literacy. This study…

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) program is an oral assessment designed to measure the most basic foundation skills for literacy acquisition in the early grades. EGRA's purpose is to document student performance on early grade reading skills in order to inform ministries…

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)

One reason for the failure of UNESCO's literacy campaign in Third World Countries has been lack of commitment by many countries. Tanzania's successful literacy program is attributed to the utilization of all educated persons as teachers. UNESCO is intensifying its efforts to persuade governments toward commitment and action to eradicate…

This guide to the creation and publication of a low-cost village-level community newspaper is based on actual experience in Indonesian villages. The guide focuses on participatory creation and management that allows the community to maintain total control over production. One newspaper, the Bulletin Kejar in West Java, is described as an…

The author feels that the basic key to Tanzania's successful literacy program has been the national will to dare to eradicate illiteracy. Adult education centers/committees and a teacher training system were established; all mass media and national institutions were geared to promote the program. (EA)

Designed to help communities in preliterate societies break the barrier of illiteracy, this book presents a simple basic foundation for literacy instruction that can be handled by local people with little experience. The book explains each step with great detail. The four chapters are as follows: (1) "Local Language Literacy and Developing…

A description of the planning of a mass literacy campaign in India through the development of pilot programs, by 1976, includes: reading material and curriculum development; training programs for supervisors and volunteers; and organization. Emphasis is placed on the need for universities to provide leadership in this area. (LH)

Each year, a million new illiterates are being added to the pool of 50 million illiterates in Pakistan. An adult and continuing education program is reviewed. Objectives and needs, program implementation, curriculum requirements, and the role of international cooperation are topics considered. (MW)

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…

The development of biliteracy programs designed for adults involves a broad range of sociolinguistic questions that can be approached from a language planning perspective. As a problem-solving activity, language planning is the realization of language policy that a government adopts in respect to such issues as language diversity, minority…

Reviewing the activities of the Literacy Corps in Iran, the article examines the national service organization which has done much to combat illiteracy in rural areas and lower the national rate of illiteracy. (MW)

The author proposes a ten-year national program in India to impart literacy to about 100 million illiterate adults between fifteen and thirty-five years old. Discusses the need for program phasing and planning, the numbers of classes needed, learner motivation, mobilizing resources, and teacher and supervisor selection and training. (EM)

Noting that the success of nonformal education in India depends on an instructor, the author outlines the content of an instructor training program which emphasizes academic content and practical training. Each of the six units of the academic content area are described along with an outline of the 6-day practical training session. (TA)