Education: Chain Literacy

The Government of Mexico, where 48% of the population is illiterate, has hit on a brilliantly simple scheme to spread the three Rs: set the literate half to teaching the illiterates. President Avila Camacho issued a decree by radio: let every able-bodied literate aged 18 to 60 prepare to act as the teacher of at least one illiterate aged 14 to 40.

All illiterates will be registered. Home town authorities will assign each literate to his pupil. The Government will distribute ten million primers. A check-up will be made one year later.

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