UN - Illiteracy 'hinders world's poor'

BBC NEWS | UK | Education | Illiteracy 'hinders world's poor'
UNESCO has published its latest Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report 2005.

"Unesco says governments and aid agencies must allocate more cash for youth and adult literacy programmes, as well as expanding quality primary and lower-secondary education.

While there is increasing backing for universal primary education, literacy is not high on the agenda of countries that give aid to other countries, the report says.

"Few bilateral donors and development banks make explicit reference to literacy in their aid policies."

The report says literacy is crucial if individuals are to participate in political, social and economic life."