' Illiteracy has become a pejorative term so now we talk about people without letters, the newly literate or new readers.’ Susana Morales, coordinator of the literacy campaign in Managua

Photo: Literacy point 43 in Managua district 6.
Credit: Jenny Matthews

The programme started with the enormous task of  finding out how many  people were unable to read. This was carried out by the Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN),  the National Engineering Institute and the National Agricultural University.  The universities  provided the students, transport and food and the lecturers supervised the students who carried out a census together with the literacy commission of the Managua Council and community  leaders in six districts. The students then analysed the data on the number of people in each neighbourhood unable to read and write.  After pilot projects to tailor the programme to local needs, the campaign was implemented at 600 literacy points in  six districts of Managua culminating in parties to celebrate  liberation from illiteracy.  

The government’s target is to reduce illiteracy to below 5% by this July so that Nicaragua can be declared a country free of illiteracy to coincide with the celebration on the 19th July of the 30^th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution. The  Ministry of Education plans to develop a programme to sustain the achievements of the literacy campaign through ongoing community education. 

INTERVIEW WITH SUSANA MORALES, COORDINATOR OF THE LITERACY CAMPAIGN IN MANAGUA

Q:  How far has the Managua campaign reduced illiteracy?        

A: When we began (four years ago), the rate was more than 8 percent. Last year, we closed with 1.7 percent. So I think this is a very successful project because we represent almost 32 percent of the population.

Q: What method do you use?

A: This project works in the neighbourhoods – unlike the national literacy campaign in the 1980s when people from urban areas  went to the rural areas.
In each neighbourhood, we identify how many people are illiterate and if they want to learn. We talk to local leaders and they promote the campaign and help us identify youngsters to work as facilitators and adults as supervisors. Then we train everyone in the methods. We work across the whole city, so we can free a lot of neighbourhoods from illiteracy in each eight to ten week cycle of instruction. Our people are in constant contact with the leaders, facilitators and the supervisors.

Q: What has been the reaction among communities?

A: People are very enthusiastic... we tell them we are just an engine because they are the ones doing the job. The young facilitators are also convinced of the importance of their work. We tell them they are the heroes of the community because they are helping their neighbours to be better and to improve the conditions in which people live. They don’t get paid. Instead, they have the satisfaction of promoting solidarity between people.

Q: Have there been any difficulties?

A: Sometimes there are people who don’t want to go to the literacy point. We have found this attitude in some old men, because they are machista. The facilitators have to go to their house and convince them to continue. We say that, to work in this project, you have to be in love with what you’re doing, and enthusiastic enough to convince  other people .

Q: Have you had enough funding for your work?

A: So far yes, because we are the capital city, but that’s not the situation of the rest of the 153 municipalities. Now we have a new challenge – those people who have become literate need to continue studying. We are doing an adult education pilot project so they can go through primary school in an accelerated way. But our Ministry of Education doesn’t have the budget, so we are in trouble.

Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, June 2009