University of Denver
Digital Commons @ DU
Graduate Student Capstones
Department of Geography & the Environment
Winter 2013
Correlation Between Literacy Rates in Africa and
Latin America and Economic Stability
Shawn Jordan
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Jordan, Shawn, "Correlation Between Literacy Rates in Africa and Latin America and Economic Stability" (2013). Graduate Student
Capstones. Paper 29.
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C o r r e la tio n B e tw e e n L ite r a c y R a te s in A f r ic a a n d L a tin A m e r ic a
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L i t e r a c y r a t e s in A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a a r e o n d i f f e r e n t e n d s o f t h e s p e c t r u m . A f r i c a i s
h o m e t o s o m e o f t h e p o o r e s t c o u n t r i e s in t h e w o r l d a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a i s n o t t o o f a r b e h i n d .
L i t e r a c y r a t e s g e n e r a l l y c o r r e l a t e to w e a l t h a s a c o u n t r y . T h e p l i g h t s o f A f r i c a a n d L a t i n
A m e r i c a a r e a n o d i f f e r e n t . In g e n e r a l , A f r i c a h a s s o m e o f t h e l o w e s t l i t e r a c y ra t e s in t h e w o r l d
a n d h a s b e e n t h e p l a c e f o r h o r r i f i c fi g h t i n g fo r d e c a d e s . T h i s e p i d e m i c ha s h i t t h e w o m e n a n d
c h i l d r e n e s p e c i a l l y h a r d . W o m e n i n A f r i c a h a v e a n i l l i t e r a c y r a t e o f 5 0 % ( a l l a f r i c a .c o m 2 0 1 0 ) .
T h i s i s s o m e t h i n g th a t c a n n o t c o n t i n u e i n t h e w o r l d . U n t i l t h i s i s f i x e d , t h e p e o p l e o f A f r i c a w i l l
n o t b e a b l e t o r e a c h t h e i r fu l l p o t e n t i a l .
L a t i n A m e r i c a , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h a s r e l a t i v e l y h i g h l i t e r a c y ra t e s f o r d e v e l o p i n g
c o u n t r i e s (C I A 2 0 1 1 ) . T h i s i s a m o d e l t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t s in A f r i c a a n d t h e w o r l d c a n l e a r n
fro m . P e o p le in b o th a re a s fa c e m a n y o f th e sa m e issu e s. T h e su c c e sse s b y th e p e o p le o f L a tin
A m e r i c a c a n b e a g o a l f o r a l l t h i r d w o r l d c o u n t r i e s t o a c h i e v e . W i t h t h e i m p r o v e d li t e r a c y r a t e s
t h e p e o p l e o f A f r i c a m i g h t b e g i n t o l i m i t th e v i o l e n c e t h a t h a s g r i p p e d t h e a r e a f o r s o m a n y
y ears.
B a c k g ro u n d & R e se a rc h Q u e stio n
I n t h e U . S . a n d i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , e d u c a t i o n i s e s s e n t i a l to r e d u c i n g
p o v e rty a n d stim u la tin g ec o n o m ic gro w th . N o c o u n try h a s a c h ie v e d ra p id e c o n o m ic g ro w th
w i t h o u t i n v e s t i n g in e d u c a t i o n a n d r e a c h i n g a n a d u l t l i t e r a c y r a t e o f a t l e a s t 4 0 p e r c e n t ( B a s i c
E d u c a tio n C o a litio n 20 0 9 ). Q u a lity e d u c a tio n e q u ip s p e o p le w ith th e k n o w le d g e , sk ills an d se lf-
2
re lia n c e th e y n e e d to in c re a se in c o m e a n d e x p a n d o p p o rtu n itie s fo r e m p lo y m e n t. E d u c a tio n h a s
p l a y e d a t r e m e n d o u s r o l e i n t h e g r o w t h o f t h e w o r l d ’s m o d e r n i n d u s t r i a l s o c i e t i e s , i n c l u d i n g
m a j o r e c o n o m i c b o o m s i n t h e U .S . a n d W e s t e r n E u r o p e i n t h e m i d - 1 9 0 0 s a n d t h e A s i a n T i g e r s i n
th e 1 9 8 0 s (B a sic E d u c a tio n C o a litio n 2 0 0 9 ). F o r e x a m p le , S o u th K o re a ro se fro m p o st-w a r
e c o n o m ic ru in to b e c o m e a n e c o n o m ic d y n a m o to d a y , p a rtly d u e to its e d u c a tio n a l ac h ie v e m e n ts.
N o t o n l y i s o n e - f i f t h o f t h e w o r l d 's a d u l t p o p u l a t i o n il l i t e r a t e , b u t a l s o 1 0 0 m i l l i o n
c h ild re n are n o t a tte n d in g p rim a ry sc h o o l (U N E S C O 2 0 0 4 ). T h is is a " s e v e re v io la tio n of rig h ts
a n d a b r a k e o n a l l a s p e c t s o f d e v e l o p m e n t " , s a y s U N E S C O 's f o u r t h E d u c a t i o n f o r A l l r e p o r t . T h e
r e p o r t e s t i m a t e s a n a d d i t i o n a l U S $ 2 .5 b i l l i o n n e e d s t o b e s p e n t e a c h y e a r i f g o a l s t o a c h i e v e a
5 0 % i m p r o v e m e n t in a d u l t l i t e r a c y a r e t o b e r e a c h e d b y 2 0 1 5 . U N E S C O s a y s g o v e r n m e n t s a n d
a id a g e n c ie s m u st a llo c a te m o re c a sh fo r y o u th a n d a d u lt lite ra c y pro g ra m s, as w e ll a s e x p a n d in g
q u a lity p rim a ry a n d lo w e r-se c o n d a ry e d u c a tio n .
W h i l e t h e r e i s i n c r e a s i n g b a c k i n g f o r u n i v e r s a l p r i m a r y e d u c a t i o n , l i t e r a c y is n o t h i g h o n
th e a g e n d a o f c o u n trie s th a t g iv e a id to o th e r c o u n trie s. A s A m e ric a n s ha v e c o m e to re a liz e ,
lite ra c y is c ru c ia l if in d iv id u a ls a re to p a rtic ip a te in p o litic a l, so c ia l, a n d e c o n o m ic life . In
A f r i c a , i m p r o v e d l i t e r a c y ra t e s c o u l d h e l p t o i m p r o v e h e a l t h , f a m i l y p l a n n i n g , a n d H I V / A I D S
p re v e n tio n .
T h e e c o n o m i c i n s t a b i l i t ie s in t h e w o r l d t o d a y h a v e b e e n a b u r n i n g i s s u e f o r q u i t e s o m e
tim e . It is th e p rim a ry d u ty o f e v e ry h e a d o f th e sta te to se c u re th e liv e s o f its c itiz e n s. E n su rin g
fin a n c ia l se c u rity o f th e c itiz e n s a lo n g w ith se c u rin g th e fu tu re o f th e n a tio n is o n e o f th e to p m o st
p rio ritie s of th e g o v e rn m e n t. H o w e v e r, a s th e re c e n t e c o n o m ic tu rm o il did n o t sp a re e v e n th e
m o st p ro sp e ro u s a n d w e a lth y n a tio n s, o n e c a n im a g in e th e h a rd sh ip s th a t th e u n d e rd e v e lo p e d a n d
th e th ird w o rld c o u n trie s a re fa c in g .
3
A fric a h a s b e e n a w a r to rn v o la tile are a fo r d e c a d e s. A lm o st 2 0 % o f a d u lts a ro u n d th e
w o r l d a r e u n a b l e t o r e a d o r w r i t e . H o w e v e r , t h e f i g u r e in A f r i c a i s a l m o s t t w i c e t h e a v e r a g e .
A fric a a s a w h o le h a s m a n y stro n g re g io n a l d iffe re n c e s w ith in th e c o n tin e n t. W e st A fric a h a s
lo w e r lite ra c y ra te s th a n th e S o u th e rn p o rtio n o f th e c o n tin e n t. W h ile lite ra c y sk ills h a v e th e
p o w e r to tra n sfo rm in d iv id u a l liv e s a n d w h o le c o m m u n itie s, th e n u m b e r o f p e o p le w h o a re
u n a b l e t o r e a d a n d w r i t e a t p r e s e n t p o s e s a m a j o r b a r r i e r t o e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t in A f r i c a . T h e
U N sa y s th o se p e o p le la c k in g a c c e ss to e d u c a tio n a re o fte n th e m o st d isa d v a n ta g e d an d
m a r g i n a l i z e d po p u l a t i o n s (U N E S C O 2 0 0 4 ) . A h i g h p e r c e n t a g e of t h e s e p e o p l e a r e w o m e n a n d
g irls, in d ig e n o u s po p u la tio n s a n d p e o p le w ith d isa b ilitie s. T o d a y o n e in fiv e a d u lts in A fric a a re
i l l i t e r a t e an d m a n y o f t h e m a r e w o m e n ( U N E S C O 2 0 0 4 ) .
W h i l e L a t i n A m e r i c a h a s b e e n a l i t t l e u n s t a b l e it h a s n o t s u f f e r e d li k e A f r i c a . O n e r e s u l t
o f t h i s m i g h t be l i t e r a c y r a t e s . T h e m o r e e d u c a t e d t h e p o p u l a t i o n , t h e h a r d e r i t i s t o f o r c e t h e m
in to fig h tin g w a rs. T h e re h a v e b e e n m a n y e ffo rts un d e rw a y to h e lp th e A fric a n p e o p le le a rn to
r e a d w h i l e t h e i n d i v i d u a l c o u n t r i e s h a v e n o t r e a l l y fo c u s e d o n t h e i s s u e w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y . L a t i n
A m e r i c a , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h a s m a d e i t a f o c u s f o r e a c h c o u n t r y , w h i c h i s e v i d e n t in t h e h i g h
l i t e r a c y ra t e s . M y r e s e a r c h i s b a s e d o n f i n d i n g l i t e r a c y ra t e s o f t h e c o u n t r i e s w i t h i n b o t h A f r i c a
a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a a n d c o m p a r i n g th e t h i s a l o n g w i t h t h e e c o n o m i c a l s t a b i l i t y o f t h e s e c o u n t r i e s .
T h e g o a l i s t o f i n d i f t h e r e i s a d i r e c t co r r e l a t i o n be t w e e n l i t e r a c y ra t e s an d t h e w e a l t h o f a
c o u n try .
C h i l d r e n r e s p o n d s t r o n g l y t o a w e l c o m i n g , c a r i n g e n v i r o n m e n t re g a r d l e s s o f t h e i r
b a c k g r o u n d ; f e e l i n g c a r e d f o r w i l l g r e a t l y a l t e r a c h i l d ’s p e r f o r m a n c e , p r o m p t i n g a c a d e m i c
a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s a n d i n c r e a s e d e f f o r t a s w e l l a s t h e g r o w t h o f h e a l t h y i n t e r p e r s o n a l (S e d e n a S a n ta n a , I. 2 0 0 0 ). In a d d itio n , c h ild re n w h o p a rtic ip a te w ith th e ir fa m ilie s to c e le b ra te th e ir
4
c u l t u r a l tr a d i t i o n s a n d b a c k g r o u n d h a v e b e e n p r o v e n t o h a v e b e t t e r c h i l d h o o d b e h a v i o r ,
im p ro v e d a c a d e m ic a c h ie v e m e n t, a n im p ro v e d se n se o f id e n tity , a n d e n h a n c e d a b ility to a d ju st to
v a r y i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s (O l s o n , A . 2 0 1 0 ) . T h i s i s w h e r e t h e d r i v i n g f o r c e i n t h e c h a n g e s t h a t n e e d
to ta k e p la c e w ill c o m e fro m . A s w e a ll k n o w , c h ild re n a re th e fu tu re an d w ith o u t th e a b ility of
th e c h ild re n to le a rn in a sta b le situ a tio n . L ib ra ria n s c a n h e lp to fa c ilita te th is p a rtic ip a tio n b y
e n c o u r a g i n g f a m i l i e s to r e a d f o l k l o r e f r o m t h e i r c u l t u r e s , t o c e l e b r a t e t h e i r r i t u a l s , a n d t o s h a r e
th e ir fo lk lo re w ith o th e rs. M a n y o f th e se fo lk lo re s are to ld to c h ild re n fro m p a re n ts an d e ld e rs.
B e i n g a b l e t o a c c e p t a n d s u p p o r t L a t i n o c u l t u r e s an d e x p e r i e n c e s is e s s e n t i a l fo r a
c h i l d r e n ’s l i b r a r i a n in t o d a y ’s w o r l d . N e a r l y o n e o u t o f s i x r e s i d e n t s in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , o r
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 6 .9 m i l l i o n p e o p l e , i d e n t i f y a s L a t i n o ( U .S . C e n s u s 2 0 0 8 ) . W h i l e t h e m a j o r i t y o f
L a tin o s in th e U n ite d S ta te s a re M e x ic a n or o f M e x ic a n d e sc e n t, a lib ra ria n m u st b e e x tre m e ly
c a re fu l to p a y a tte n tio n to th e c u ltu ra l d iv e rsity d e m o g ra p h ic s w ith in th e L a tin o p o p u la tio n th e y
serv e.
L ite ra tu re R e v ie w
T h e p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e s c h o o l a g e p o p u l a t i o n in A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s th a t m a k e i t i n t o s c h o o l
is a m o n g th e lo w e s t in th e w o rld a n d th is is e s p e c ia lly ch a lle n g in g at th e p rim a ry sc h o o l le v e l
(G lo b a l L ite ra c y P ro je c t 20 0 8 ). T h ro u g h o u t m o st o f A fric a a se v e re la c k o f fu n d s c o u p le d w ith a
la c k o f a d e q u a te te a c h e rs, c la ssro o m s, a n d le a rn in g m a te ria ls a d v e rse ly a ffe c t th e e d u c a tio n a l
e n v iro n m e n t. T h is w ill b e o n e o f th e m a in e ffo rts in th is re se a rc h . T h e fa c t th a t so m a n y c h ild re n
a r e n o t a t t e n d i n g s c h o o l i s o n e o f t h e m a i n f o c u s e s o f t h i s t y p e o f s t u d y . W i t h o u t th e c h i l d r e n
a t t e n d i n g s c h o o l a n d s u c c e e d i n g t h e n t h e c o u n t r i e s th e m s e l v e s w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o a d e q u a t e l y
fu n c tio n o n th e w o rld sta g e .
5
S i n c e t h e 1 9 5 0 s , e d u c a t i o n w e n t f r o m b e i n g a r e q u i s i t e of n a t i o n a l id e n t i t y to b e i n g
r e c o g n i z e d a s a n i n s t r u m e n t o f p o w e r , a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r o f d e v e l o p m e n t , th e d i s p e n s e r o f
h u m a n re s o u rc e s , a n d th e g u a ra n to r o f th e c o n tin u ity of th e e n tire lo c a l sc e n e . Im p o rta n t po s tW o rld W a r II e d u c a tio n m e e tin g s h a v e in c lu d e d th e R e g io n a l S e m in a r on A d u lt L ite ra c y a n d
E d u c a tio n in R io d e Ja n e iro in 1 9 4 9 a n d th e S e m in a r in P rim a ry E d u c a tio n in M o n te v id e o in
1 9 5 0 . O t h e r i m p o r t a n t m e e t i n g s to o k p l a c e d u r i n g t h e 1 9 5 0 s . I n 1 9 7 9 , t h e D e c l a r a t i o n of M e x i c o
se t th e g o a ls fo r th e M a jo r Pro je c t in E d u c a tio n in L a tin A m e ric a . T o w n s a re n o lo n g e r a b le to
a b so rb p a rt o f th e ru ra l w o rk fo rc e a n d m o st p e o p le w h o su b sist o n th e p e rip h e rie s o f c itie s h a v e
n o t h i n g t o d o t h e r e . A m o n g e d u c a t i o n a l pr o b l e m s ar e t e a c h e r s w h o d o n o t h a v e s u f f i c i e n t
e d u c a t i o n , s c h o o l p r o g r a m s th a t a r e n o t r e l e v a n t t o t h e i r s t u d e n t s , a n d t h e l a r g e g a p b e t w e e n
c o m m u n i t y li f e a n d t h e s c h o l a s t i c m i l i e u . Y e t p e o p l e a r e o p t i m i s t i c a b o u t c h a n g e s . T h e
c o n d i t i o n s fo r s u c c e s s a r e o f a n e t h i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l or d e r . O n l y i n a f r a m e w o r k of g r e a t e r
e q u a lity w ill it b e p o ssib le to m a k e p ro g re ss. In te rn a tio n a l L ite ra c y Y e a r is a stim u la tin g
c h a l l e n g e a n d s i g n i f i e s th e m o m e n t o f t r u t h f o r L a t i n A m e r i c a ( R o c a 1 9 9 0 ) .
T h e r e a r e t h r e e m a i n e f f o r t s in t h e l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w . T h e f i r s t is t h e l i t e r a c y r a t e s in
A f r i c a . T h e s e c o n d i s t h e l i t e r a c y r a t e s i n L a t i n A m e r i c a . T h e t h i r d is t h e c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
l i t e r a c y r a t e s a n d a c o u n t r i e s o v e r a l l w e a l t h . A l t h o u g h s i m i l a r ty p e s o f s t u d i e s h a v e b e e n ( F l o r i d a
L ite ra c y C o a litio n 20 0 8 ); I in te n d to fin d if a L a tin A m e ric a m o d e l w ill w o rk fo r A fric a b y
r e v i e w i n g t h e C I A F a c t b o o k l i t e r a c y ra t e s .
M e th o d s, D a ta a n d S tu d y A re a
T h e p r i m a r y m e t h o d s o f t h i s r e s e a r c h w i l l i n c o r p o r a t e s p a t i a l a n a l y s i s to d e t e r m i n e
l i t e r a c y ra t e s b y c o u n t r y b y m a p p i n g t h e l i t e r a c y ra t e s f r o m b o t h U N E S C O a n d t h e C I A W o r l d
6
F a c tB o o k . E c o n o m ic d a ta fro m th e C IA W o rld F a c t B o o k w ill a lso b e in c o rp o ra te d to d e te rm in e
if th e re is a c o rre la tio n be tw e e n th e tw o . T h is w ill b e c o n d u c te d fo r b o th A fric a a n d L a tin
A m e ric a . P o p u la tio n da ta w ill a lso b e ta k e n in to a c c o u n t to e n su re to ta l p o p u la tio n s do n o t sk e w
t h e r e s u l t s . T h i s w i l l b e b r o k e n d o w n a s w e l l t o d i s p l a y th e d i s p a r i t y be t w e e n m e n a n d w o m e n a s
w e ll a s th e d isp a rity be tw e e n th e d iffe re n t are a s w ith in L a tin A m e ric a an d A fric a .
I n S o u t h A f r i c a a n i n t e g r a t e d m e t h o d o l o g i c a l ap p r o a c h i s b e i n g u s e d t o d r a w o n t h e
b e n e f i t s o f t h e l a n g u a g e e x p e r i e n c e a p p r o a c h . I n l i n e w i t h t h i s re s e a r c h e f f o r t w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y ,
th e p ro g ra m w a n ts to e n h a n c e th e v is u a l lite ra c y an d p e rc e p tu a l sk ills stu d e n ts n e e d to b e a b le to
u n d e r s t a n d a r a n g e o f g r a p h i c s . I t i s a l s o a i m e d t o d e v e l o p a u t o m a t i c i t y b y a d d r e s s i n g th e
m e c h a n ic s o f re a d in g , p h o n e m ic a w a re n e ss, le tte r– so u n d re la tio n sh ip s a n d w o rd a n a ly sis (K h a ri
G u d e 2 0 1 1 ) . I l l i t e r a c y p r o b l e m s in L a t i n A m e r i c a c a n n o t b e f a c e d s u c c e s s f u l l y w i t h o u t t a k i n g
in to a c c o u n t w h a t h a p p e n s a t th e b e g in n in g o f th e ir p rim a ry sc h o o l e d u c a tio n . A lm o s t a ll
c h i l d r e n e n t e r p r i m a r y s c h o o l , b u t s o m e o f t h o s e c h i l d r e n fr o m m a r g i n a l se c t o r s o f t h e
p o p u l a t i o n r e p e a t th e e a r l y g r a d e s o n e o r m o r e t i m e s a n d l e a v e s c h o o l w i t h o u t e v e r c o m p l e t i n g .
A l a c k o f p r o m o t i o n a n d l o w r e t e n t i o n c o n s t i t u t e th e e v i d e n c e o f a d e e p e r p r o b l e m . T r a d i t i o n a l
sc h o o l p ra c tic e s m a k e th e b e g in n in g o f lite ra c y m o re d iffic u lt p re c ise ly fo r th o se c h ild re n w h o
a re m o re d e p e n d e n t o n sc h o o l h e lp .
C o n c lu sio n
E d u c a tio n is th e c o rn e rsto n e of su c c e ss in so c ie ty . W ith o u t effo rts to in c re a se lite ra c y
r a t e s a n d e d u c a t i o n in A f r i c a , t h e a r e a w i l l n e v e r r e a c h i t s f u l l p o t e n t i a l . T h i s t h e s i s h a s s e v e r a l
g o a l s ; t h e f i r s t is t o d e t e r m i n e th e l i t e r a c y r a t e s f o r e a c h c o u n t r y i n A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a .
T h e s e c o n d i s t o c o m p a r e t h e t w o w i t h t h e t h o u g h t t h a t t h e c o u n t r i e s in L a t i n A m e r i c a h a v e
h i g h e r l i t e r a c y r a t e s . T h e t h i r d i s t o c o r r e l a t e li t e r a c y r a t e s a n d a g i v e n c o u n t r i e s w e a l t h . T h e
7
b e lie f w ith th is is A fric a m ig h t b e a b le to sto p th e c o n sta n t w a rrin g a n d im p ro v e th e life o f th e
p o p u la tio n . W h ile L a tin A m e ric a h a s h a d m u ltip le d ic ta to rsh ip s a n d c o u p s, th e lite ra c y ra te s
h a v e b e e n ste a d ily im p ro v in g .
T h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s p r o j e c t w i l l n o t i n c o r p o r a t e th e o u t s i d e f a c t o r s , w h i c h a f f e c t l i t e r a c y
r a t e s . T h i s w i l l s i m p l y b e a s t u d y o f t h e l i t e r a c y ra t e s b e t w e e n t h e t w o r e g i o n s . T h e s h o c k i n g
t h i n g t o m a n y p e o p l e m i g h t b e h o w h i g h t h e l i t e r a c y ra t e s a r e i n L a t i n A m e r i c a . T h i s s t u d y i s
a lso d e sig n e d to sh o w th e d isp a rity be tw e e n A fric a a n d L a tin A m e ric a . T h e h o p e is to fin d a w a y
to e s ta b lis h a b e tte r e d u c a tio n a l sy s te m in A fric a w ith h o p e s th a t s ta b ility w ill re tu rn a n d liv in g
c o n d itio n s w ill im p ro v e .
8
R e fe r e n c e L ist
a l l A f r i c a .c o m ( 2 0 1 0 ) . A f r i c a : E m p o w e r i n g W o m e n T h r o u g h L i t e r a c y E m p o w e r s U s A l l .
R e t r i e v e d F e b r u a r y 7 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / a l la f r ic a . c o m / s to r ie s / 2 0 1 0 0 9 0 9 0 0 0 6 . h tm l
a l l A f r i c a . c o m ( 2 0 0 9 ) . W e s t A f r i c a : C o m b a t i n g W o r l d 's L o w e s t L i t e r a c y R a t e s . R e t r i e v e d
F e b r u a r y 6 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / a l l a f r ic a . c o m /s t o r i e s / 2 0 0 9 0 4 2 4 0 0 0 7 . h tm l
A y u d a T e c (2 0 1 0 ). S p e c ia l Te c h n o lo g y fo r S p e c ia l C h ild re n in N e e d . R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 2 , 2 0 1 1 ,
f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . a y u d a t e c . o r g / w h y _ l a t in _ a m e r i c a
B a sic E d u c a tio n C o a litio n (2 0 0 8 ). B u ild in g E c o n o m ic G ro w th th ro u g h B a sic E d u c a tio n .
R e t r i e v e d F e b r u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / w w w .b a s i c e d .o r g / w p c o n t e n t / u p l o a d s / F a c t s h e e t s / E c o n o m ic _ G r o w t h . p d f
B B C N e w s ( 2 0 0 5 ) . I l l i t e r a c y 'h i n d e r s w o r l d 's p o o r '. R e t r i e v e d F e b r u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m
h t t p : / / n e w s . b b c . c o . u k / 2 / h i/ u k _ n e w s /e d u c a t io n / 4 4 2 0 7 7 2 . s t m
B o k o k o , B . (2 0 1 0 ). B isila B o k o k o A fric a n Lite ra c y P ro je c t. R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 9 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / b b a l p .o r g /
B u t a g i r a , T . ( 2 0 0 9 ) . H o r n i n g L i t e r a c y S k i l l s of T h e H a p l e s s . R e t r i e v e d J a n u a r y 1 5 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m
h t t p : / / i n 2 e a s ta f r ic a . n e t/ h o r n in g - li te r a c y - s k i ll s - o f - t h e - h a p l e s s /
C a s t r o , F . ( 1 9 9 1 ) . C a s t r o S p e a k s o n L i t e r a c y in M e l e n a d e l S u r . R e t r i e v e d D e c e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 0 ,
f r o m h t t p : / / l a n i c . u t e x a s . e d u / p r o je c t/ c a s tr o /d b / 1 9 9 1 /1 9 9 1 1 1 0 9 - 1 . h t m l
C a th e rin e , A . (2 0 1 0 ). L a tin A m e ric a n E c o n o m ic P o lic y | L a tin A m e ric a E d u c a tio n . R e trie v e d
Jan u ary 2 2 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
9
h t t p : / / w w w . s t r e e t d i r e c t o r y . c o m / tr a v e l _ g u i d e / 1 3 7 8 3 2 / c o m p u te r s /l a ti n _ a m e r ic a n _ e c o n o
m i c _ p o l i c y _ _ l a t in _ a m e r i c a _ e d u c a t io n . h t m l
C I A ( 2 0 1 1 ) . L i t e r a c y . T h e W o r l d F a c t b o o k . R e t r i e v e d Ja n u a r y 2 2 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m
h t t p s : / / w w w . c i a . g o v / l i b r a r y / p u b li c a t io n s / th e - w o r l d - f a c tb o o k / f i e ld s / 2 1 0 3 . h tm l
C R E F A L (2 0 0 9 ). L a tin A m e ric a a n d th e C a rib b e a n :
G e n d e r Illite ra c y , P a tte rn s o f In e q u a litie s in A d u lt E d u c a tio n . R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 2 7 , 2 0 1 1 ,
fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . c r e f a l . e d u . m x / b ib l io t e c a _ d i g it a l/ t e m a s _ e s p e c i a l i z a d o s _ e p ja / a lf a b e ti z a c i o n /
i l l i t e r a c y _ a d u lt s _ g e n d e r _ l a ti n a m e r ic a . p d f
D e n g , S . ( 2 0 1 0 ) . Z i m b a b w e T o p s A f r i c a 's L i t e r a c y R a t e . R e t r i e v e d J a n u r a r y 1 0 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m
h t t p : / / n e w s . x i n h u a n e t . c o m / e n g li s h 2 0 1 0 / c u lt u r e / 2 0 1 0 - 0 7 /1 4 / c _ 1 1 1 9 5 3 4 8 8 . h tm
D u ffie ld , C . (2 0 0 9 ). U N : Im p ro v e lite ra c y in A fric a . R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 9 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . b b c . c o . u k / w o r l d s e r v i c e /l e a r n i n g e n g li s h / l a n g u a g e / w o r d s in t h e n e w s / 2 0 0 9 / 0 9
/ 0 9 0 9 1 8 _ w i t n _ l i t e r a c y . s h tm l
D u P o n t, S . (2 0 0 9 ). M o b ile s an d L ite ra c y in W e st A fric a . R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 1 7 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / n d n . o r g / b l o g / 2 0 0 9 / 0 9 /m o b il e s - a n d - li te r a c y - w e s t - a f r ic a
E liz a b e th , M . (2 0 1 1 ). L ite ra c y S ta tistic s. R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 1 6 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . e d u c a t i o n b u g . o r g / a /l i te r a c y - s ta t is t ic s . h tm l
E th io p ia n R e v ie w (2 0 1 0 ). T h e L ite ra c y o f O u r R e g io n : N o rth E a st A fric a . R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 2 2 ,
2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . e t h i o p i a n r e v ie w . c o m / f o r u m /v i e w t o p i c . p h p ? f = 2 & t = 2 3 8 0 4
F e r r e i r o , E . ( 1 9 9 2 ) . C h i l d r e n 's L i t e r a c y a n d P u b l i c S c h o o l s i n L a t i n A m e r i c a . T h e A N N A L S o f
t h e A m e r i c a n A c a d e m y o f P o l i t i c a l an d S o c i a l S c i e n c e , 5 2 0 ( 1 4 3 - 1 5 0 ) . R e t r i e v e d f r o m
h t t p : / / h t t p :/ / a n n . s a g e p u b . c o m / c o n te n t /5 2 0 / 1 /1 4 3 . a b s t r a c t
10
F id z a n i, B . (2 0 0 6 ). V I. S u b S a h a ra n A fric a In fo rm a tio n L ite ra c y Sta te -o f-th e A rt R e p o rt.
R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 5 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . j e s u s l a u . c o m /d o c s / p u b li c a c i o n e s /d o c 2 / U N E S C O _ s t a t e _ o f _ th e _ a r t. p d f
F ish e r, S . (2 0 0 2 ). P o litic a l Ch a n g e s A ffe c tin g Re a d in g H a b its in L a tin A m e ric a . R e trie v e d
F e b r u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / a d v a n c e . u c o n n . e d u / 2 0 0 2 /0 2 1 0 1 4 / 0 2 1 0 1 4 0 2 . h tm
F lo rid a L ite ra c y C o a litio n (2 0 0 8 ). L ite ra c y a n d P o v e rty . R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 1 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . f l o r i d a l it e r a c y . o r g / r e f g u id e / p o v e r t y . p d f
F o u n d a tio n fo r W e st A fric a (2 0 0 7 ). N e w T e x tb o o k s fo r S ie rra L e o n e . R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 1 1 ,
2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / w w w .t f w a .o r g / e d u s 3 .h t m l
G lo b a l L ite ra c y P ro je c t (2 0 0 8 ). A fric a L ite ra c y S u p p o rt P ro g ra m s. R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 1 2 , 2 0 1 1 ,
f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . g l p i n c . o r g / W e b _ p a g e s / A f r ic a _ P r o g r a m s . h tm l
G r o g g , P . ( 2 0 0 6 ) . L a t i n A m e r i c a - E d u c a t i o n : R e a d i n g , W r i t i n g an d T h e n W h a t ? . R e t r i e v e d
F e b r u a r y 6 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . a l t e r i n f o s . o r g / a r t ic l e . p h p 3 ? id _ a r ti c le = 4 1 9
H .E .L .P . ( 2 0 0 8 ) . E d u c a t i o n . R e t r i e v e d J a n u r a r y 2 2 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m
h t t p : / / h e l p w e s t a f r i c a . o r g / a r t ic l e s / e d u c a t i o n
H e l l e r , M . ( 2 0 0 5 ) . S c i e n t i f i c L i t e r a c y in L a t i n A m e r i c a : H o w a r e w e d o i n g ? . R e t r i e v e d J a n u r a r y
2 2 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . e d u c o a s . o r g / P o r t a l/ e n /t e m a / ti n te r e s /t e m a i n t5 5 . a s p x ? c u lt u r e = e n & n a v id = 3 6
H o r s t e a d , K . ( 2 0 0 9 ) . T h e C o l d T r u t h A b o u t F e m a l e I l l i t e r a c y in W e s t A f r i c a . R e t r i e v e d F e b r u a r y
5 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . s u i t e 1 0 1 . c o m / c o n t e n t/ w r i te - f o r - y o u r - r ig h t s - a 1 7 9 8 6 8
H u e b le r, F . (2 0 0 8 ). In te r n a tio n a l E d u c a tio n S ta tis tic s . Re trie v e d Fe b ru a ry 8 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / h u e b l e r . b lo g s p o t . c o m / 2 0 0 8 /0 5 / li te r a c y . h tm l
11
I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u r e a u o f E d u c a t i o n . ( 1 9 9 0 ) . L i t e r a c y in L a t i n A m e r i c a : P r o g r e s s , P r o b l e m s , a n d
P e rsp e c tiv e s. L ite ra c y L e sso n s. (R e p o rt N o . G e n e v a , S w itz e rla n d ).
K a p la n , I. (2 0 0 9 ). T a n z a n i -- E d u c a ttio n . A fric a n S tu d ie s C e n te r. R e trie v e d F e b ru a ry 1 7 , 2 0 1 1 ,
f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . a f r i c a . u p e n n . e d u / N E H / t e d u c a ti o n . h tm
K h a ri G u d e (2 0 1 1 ). L ite r a c y in S o u th A fr ic a . R e trie v e d Fe b ru a ry 1 5 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . k h a r i g u d e . c o . z a / i n d e x . p h p /l it e r a c y - in - s o u th - a f r i c a
L a t i o n S t o r i e s .c o m ( 2 0 0 9 ) . U .S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e P e o p l e P r o f i l e s L a t i n A m e r i c a n C o u n t r i e s .
R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 2 6 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p : / / l a t in o s t o r i e s . c o m /L a t i n _ A m e r i c a _ R e s o u r c e s /L a t in _ A m e r ic a n _ C o u n t r y _ P r o f i le s .
h tm
L ite ra c y (2 0 1 1 ). W o rld . C IA W o r ld F a c tb o o k . R e trie v e d Fe b ru a ry 1 , 2 0 1 1 , fro m
h t t p s : / / w w w . c i a . g o v / l i b r a r y / p u b li c a t io n s / th e - w o r l d - f a c tb o o k / f i e ld s / 2 1 0 3 . h tm l
M e d ic in e E n c y c lo p e d ia (2 0 0 9 ). L a tin A m e ric a - L ite ra c y . M e d ic in e E n c y c lo p e d ia . R e trie v e d
F e b r u a r y 1 1 , 2 0 1 1 , f r o m h t t p : / / m e d i c in e . j r a n k . o r g /p a g e s /9 6 5 / L a t in - A m e r i c a L i t e r a c y .h t m l
M e d ic in e E n c y c lo p e d ia (2 0 0 9 ). L a tin A m e ric a - D e m o g ra p h ic B a c k g ro u n d , L ite ra c y , L iv in g
A rra n g e m e n ts, E c o n o m ic A c tiv ity A n d R e tire m e n t, Pe n sio n P o lic y . M e d ic in e
E n c y c lo p e d ia . R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 , fro m
h t t p : / / m e d i c in e . j r a n k . o r g /p a g e s /9 6 9 / L a t in - A m e r i c a . h tm l
M U N F W (1 9 9 7 ). A c c e ss to E d u c a tio n . R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 2 0 , 2 0 1 3 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . m u n f w . o r g / a r c h i v e /4 7 t h /3 r d 2 . h t m
N a tio n s O n lin e (2 0 0 7 ). C o u n trie s o f th e T h ird W o rld . R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 3 , 2 0 1 3 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . n a t i o n s o n l i n e . o r g / o n e w o r l d /t h ir d _ w o r ld . h t m
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O k o n , A . ( 2 0 1 0 , A u g u s t ) . A R e g i o n a l O u t l o o k o f t h e L i t e r a c y S i t u a t i o n in W e s t A f r i c a . W e s t
A f r i c a I n s i g h t . R e t r i e v e d f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . w e s t a f r i c a i n s ig h t . o r g
O k p a l a , A . ( 1 9 9 7 ) . O n e c o n o m i c i n s t a b i l i t y in A f r i c a n e c o n o m i e s . R e t r i e v e d J a n u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 1 3 ,
f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . a l l b u s i n e s s . c o m / g o v e r n m e n t/ 6 5 4 6 5 4 - 1 . h t m l
O l s o n , A . ( 2 0 1 0 ) . B r e a k i n g T h r o u g h C u l t u r a l B a r r i e r s : U s i n g L a t i n A m e r i c a n F o l k t a l e s in
L ite ra c y A n d L ib ra ry P ro g ra m m in g . R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 1 5 , 2 0 1 3 , fro m
h t t p : / / m o r p h o l it e r a c y . c o m / 2 0 1 0 /0 5 / 2 6 /b r e a k in g - t h r o u g h - c u lt u r a l - b a r r ie r s - u s i n g - l a ti n a m e r i c a n - f o l k t a le s - i n - li te r a c y - a n d - li b r a r y - p r o g r a m m i n g /
O x f a m ( 2 0 0 9 ) . W e s t A f r i c a 's L i t e r a c y C r i s i s N e e d s F o c u s a n d F u n d s . R e t r i e v e d D e c e m b e r 1 0 ,
2 0 1 2 , f r o m h t t p : / / w w w .o x f a m .o r g .h k / e n / n e w s _ 9 2 2 .a s p x
P e a rc e , C . (2 0 0 9 ). F ro m c lo se d b o o k s to o p e n d o o rs-W e st A fric a ’s lite ra c y c h a lle n g e . R e trie v e d
J a n u a r y 1 6 , 2 0 1 3 , f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . c a m p a i g n f o r e d u c a ti o n . o r g / d o c s /r e p o r t s /w e s t a f r i c a - l i t e r a c y - c h a l l a n g e / 0 9 . 0 4 % 2 0 C lo s e d % 2 0 b o o k s % 2 0 % 2 0 W e s t % 2 0 A f r i c a 's % 2 0 l i te r a c y % 2 0 c h a ll e n g e . p d f
R a y , B . ( 2 0 0 6 ) . L i t e r a c y is k e y t o a d d r e s s i n g A f r i c a 's w o e s . R e t r i e v e d Ja n u a r y 7 , 2 0 1 3 , f r o m
h t t p : / / w w w . f s u . e d u / n e w s / 2 0 0 6 / 0 4 / 0 5 /a f r i c a n . li te r a c y /
S e d a -S a n ta n a , I. (2 0 0 0 ). L ite r a c y re s e a r c h in L a tin A m e r ic a : C o n te x t, c h a r a c te r is tic s, an d
a p p l i c a t i o n s / I n v e s ti g a c ió n s o b r e a l f a b e t i z a c i ó n e n A m é r i c a L a t i n a : C o n t e x t o ,
c a r a c t e r í s t i c a s y a p l i c a c i o n e s . R e t r i e v e d Ja n u a r y 5 , 2 0 1 3 , f r o m
h t t p : / / w w w . r e a d i n g o n l i n e . o r g /a r ti c le s /a r t _ in d e x . a s p ? H R E F = / a r t i c le s / h a n d b o o k /s e d a /i n
d e x .h t m l
S o u th A m e ric a H e a d lin e s (2 0 0 9 ). P e ru ’s lite ra c y pro g ra m m e re a c h e s o u t to its in d ig e n o u s
p e o p le s. R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 6 , 2 0 1 3 , fro m
13
h t t p : / / s o u t h a m e r i c a h e a d l in e s . c o m / p e r u / p e r u s - li t e r a c y - p r o g r a m m e - r e a c h e s - o u t- t o - i ts in d ig e n o u s-p e o p le s/
T h e F o u n d a tio n fo r W e st A fric a (2 0 0 7 ). N e w T e x tb o o k s fo r S ie rra L e o n e . R e trie v e d D e c e m b e r
2 3 , 2 0 1 2 , f r o m h t t p : / / w w w .t f w a .o r g / e d u s 3 .h t m l
T h e L ite ra c y P ro je c t (2 0 0 9 ). C a rig g e a n , L a tin A m e ric a , N o rth A m e ric a . R e trie v e d Ja n u a ry 1 9 ,
2 0 1 3 , f r o m h t t p : / / l i b r a r ia n . l is h o s t . o r g / ? p = 1 9 5 2
T h e W a sh in g to n P o st (2 0 0 6 ). V o ic e s o f C u ltu re in L a tin A m e ric a . T h e W a sh in g to n P o st.
R e t r i e v e d f r o m h t t p : / / h t tp : / /w w w . w a s h i n g t o n p o s t . c o m / w p s r v / p h o t o / i n t e r a c t i v e s / la t in a m e r i c a /l a ti n A m e r i c a . h t m l
T ra d in g E c o n o m ic s (2 0 1 0 ). L ite ra c y ra te ; y o u th m a le (% o f m a le s a g e s 1 5 -2 4 ) in L a tin A m e ric a
a n d C a r i b b e a n . R e t r i e v e d Ja n u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 1 3 , f r o m
h t t p : / / w w w . t r a d i n g e c o n o m i c s . c o m /l a ti n - a m e r i c a - a n d - c a r i b b e a n / l it e r a c y - r a t e - y o u t h m a l e - p e r c e n t - o f - m a le s - a g e s - 1 5 - 2 4 - w b - d a t a . h t m l
U .S . C e n s u s B u r e a u ( 2 0 0 8 ) . P o p u l a t i o n E s t i m a t e s : N a t i o n a l S e x , A g e , R a c e , a n d H i s p a n i c
O rig in : 2 0 0 8 . R e trie v e d D e c e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 2 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . c e n s u s . g o v / p o p e s t / n a ti o n a l/ a s r h /N C - E S T 2 0 0 8 - a s r h . h t m l
U N E S C O (2 0 0 4 ). L ite ra c y . R e trie v e d D e c e m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 2 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . u n e s c o . o r g / n e w / e n / e d u c a ti o n /t h e m e s / e d u c a t io n - b u il d i n g - b l o c k s / l it e r a c y /
U N F P A (2 0 0 8 ). In d ig e n o u s W o m e n in L a tin A m e ric a . R e trie v e d D e c e m b e r 1 0 , 2 0 1 2 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . u n f p a . o r g / r i g h t s / in d i g e n o u s . h tm
U N IC E F (2 0 1 0 ). E d u c a tio n . R e trie v e d De c e m b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 2 , fro m
h t t p : / / w w w . u n i c e f . o r g / i n f o b y c o u n t r y / s o u th a f r ic a _ s ta t is t ic s . h tm l# 6 7
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W o w .g m ( 2 0 0 8 ) . S O U T H A F R I C A : S c h o o l s a f e t y i n f l u e n c e s l i t e r a c y r a t e . R e t r i e v e d J a n u a r y 1 0 ,
2 0 1 3 , f r o m h t t p : / / w o w . g m / a f r ic a / s o u t h - a f r ic a / jo h a n n e s b u r g / a r t i c l e /2 0 0 8 / 2 /1 4 / s o u th a f r i c a - s c h o o l - s a f e t y - i n f lu e n c e s - l it e r a c y - r a t e
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