Today I have been to the Main Library at Manchester University to conduct some research. I found a great section on literacy and made some notes as the books were unfortunately only for reference. I found a book entitled Functional Literacy in Mali: Training for Development released by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). It was part of a series Educational Studies and Documents which was based upon eradicating illiteracy in the developing world and how increased literacy can lead to better economic performance. The document was released in November 1964 so it is not recent. However, this shows how literacy as an issue has progressed. It documented pilot literacy projects in Mali and also Tanzania and Iran under the Experimental World Literacy Programme (EWLP). They were aimed at increasing economic and social development in those countries.
NB. I need to look up: ‘Literacy Newsletter’, Bernard Dumont, National Literacy Centre and World Congress of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy. Also ZAF and UNDP (who financed the scheme).
The publication talked of how it is important to understand the country’s history before implementing such a scheme and to have a firmly established social structure. The scheme gave training to workmen to follow increased technological growth and therefore have an impact on labour productivity (the rate of output per worker.)
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to read the document thoroughly, but have picked up some useful leads. Such as researching:
· Functional Literacy
· The need for production of materials
· The geography of a country affecting such a scheme
· Population growth rate and its effect on literacy rates.
A potential title for my project could be ‘How successful was the …scheme on increasing economic and social development of (country) …’
This document seemed like a really good evaluation of such schemes and I think it would be interesting to look at the information and come to my own conclusion. The ‘Malian Method’ as it is known came to the conclusion that literacy led to a good effect on production, which could be realised on a wider scale and a radical renewal of cultural life. It was especially effective in rural areas.
NB. Look up Malian Institute of Functional Literacy, Functional Literacy Service, Development Operations and Ministry of Overseas Development.
The Future of Literacy in a Changing World edited by Daniel A Wagner, talked about the different levels of illiteracy. I think this is something I need to look into further, as some literacy may be passable but not lead to economic/ social development. Also, models based around literacy. It was part of the Comparative and International Education Series. Again, however, this was published a while ago in 1973. I need to find some more recent views on the subject. It also discussed subjects such as learning disabilities, colonial literacy, maps of illiteracy and ABE programmes which I need to research further.
The final book I looked through was Illiteracy: A world Problem, one of the books from my original list. It was edited by Charles Joseph Jeffries in 1967.This book talked of the history of illiteracy and several other countries which have attempted schemes to eradicate or lessen the problem.
The countries are as follows:
· Soviet Union
· Turkey 1923
· Philippines (Dr. Frank C Laubach)
· India 1930s
· Northern Nigeria 1950s
· Ghana-Togoland scheme
· Uganda (ARG Prosser)
· Cuba
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