ILLITERACY 2

L.O: Explain the consequences of illiteracy

Give probable solution to the problem of illiteracy in the country
K.W: Ethnic violence, ignorance, poverty, disease, technological development, abuse of rights, adoption of laws and
policies, legalizing compulsory education, mass mobilization programs, etc

Consequences of illiteracy

1. Ignorance, poverty and disease: Lack of education leads to ignorance because the people affected lack knowledge
of what to do to solve their problems. An illiterate person, for instance, who does not germs and the causes of
disease, will not understand why he should wash his hands often and even after visiting the toilet. An illiterate
person will be a liability to himself and to the society of which he is a member. A society where the majority of
the people are illiterate, will not be able to appreciate the need for positive change which is necessary for
development.
2. Susceptibility to manipulation: Since illiterate persons cannot have access to information and ideas, they cannot
muster enough courage to face the new challenges of today’s world. As a result of this, they get deceived easily,
more so as they do not know what to expect. For example, they are usually the ones used as thugs. Since they
could irrational wicked people use them to trouble the society.
3. Ethnic violence: Experience has shown that many ethnic uprisings, crises and violent protests are as a result of
poor understanding of social conditions. Again many of the people that used to cause these social disturbances
are illiterates. They are easily manipulated by the few educated leaders who are interested in using them to
achieve their own selfish ends.
4. Inhibition of technological development: Illiteracy has the tendency to either slow down the rate of technological
development or in many instances, make such development impossible. Modern implements require the ability
to read and write simple instructions. In areas where many people are illiterate, the use of these equipment
becomes impossible. For example effective driving on the roads demands the ability to read signs, signals and
instructions.
5. Denial of rights and abuse of rights: Many illiterate people do not know their rights, and so sometimes are denied
these rights, and so sometimes are denied these rights by others around them. Also, they do not their obligations
to their society. For example, I exercising their rights to belong to associations and to assemble, they could hold
noisy parties, blocking the roads and blocking other people’s access to their homes.

Solutions to the problems of illiteracy

1. Adoption of enabling laws and policies: As already identified, tradition and some cultural practices, are responsible for
mass illiteracy in many parts of the country. In order to arrest the situation, all inhibitive practices should be stopped.
Government, therefore, must adopt the policies that are conducive to the running of mass education.

2. Provision of access road facilities: Government should make the rural area accessible by providing good roads to those
places, so that organizations and individuals will be encouraged to set up schools there.

3. Mass mobilization programs: One of the causes of illiteracy is poor knowledge or poor understanding of the value of
formal education. Government should embark on massive enlightenment programs to educate people on the value and
benefits of formal education.

4. Legalizing compulsory education: Government should put a laws in place mandating every child to spend at least nine
years in the regular school system.