The Problem of Illiteracy

An interesting article on the Army approach to Problems of illiteracy was published in the Educational Supplement of The Times of December 23rd, 1944. In this the author, after commenting on the illiteracy or Partial literacy of a proportion of the population, and the fact that too little attention has been given to the niatter in this country, describes measures taken by the War Office to deal with the problem of illiterate soldiers who, it was recognized, could not be fully efficient and njight even become a liability. A committee was, therefore, appointed in 1943 to consider the question, and as a result it produced readers which embody special Matures (English Parade, Books I and II, and Instructor's Pamphlet). At the beginning of 1944 basic education 9?urses for illiterate soldiers were established at centres in each command. Successive courses each of six weeks' duration have been run. The author describes the educational and social results ?f the work of the A.E.C. on these courses as " almost