Nicaragua to Begin Campaign To End Widespread Illiteracy

Begining in March, the Nicaraguan government will conduct a four-month literacy campaign that is also a "political project," Sonya de Chamorro, the campaign's fundraising director, yesterday told an audience of about 100 at the School of Education.

Chamorro said Nicaraguan volunteers will use a booklet discussing the contributions of Nicaraguan revolutionaries to teach the illiterate--more than half the population.

The $20 million crusade is designed to reduce the illiteracy rate of those older than 10 to less than 10 per cent, she added.

Cuban Connection

Using an approach similar to one pioneered in Cuba, teachers will present a visual image chosen to represent themes such as health, housing, production, and revolution, and then develop a dialogue with the learners.

"It will be the campesion's first opportunity to express his perception of the national reality," Chamorro said, adding that "all education has a political content."

Chamorro said the campaign will not only alert Nicaraguans to the importance of participating in the political process, but will also encourage them to increase their productivity and to adopt more sanitary methods.

Literate Nicaraguans, "populares," will teach in cities and towns where they live, while a People's Literacy Army, composed of volunteers, will go to rural areas. Now in Nicaragua there is a ration of one teacher to every ten learners.

Forty teachers and 40 university students have already tested the teaching methods and are now training 600 new teachers; these 600 will train 7000; the 7000 will train 120,000--"all of this supported by the radio, television, and newspapers," Chamorro said.

Chamorro said the eradication of malaria, the collection of peasant folklore, and the discovery of archeological treasures will be "possible by-products of the campaign."