ABSTRACT
The concept of attaining universal literacy is misleading since meanings and necessary levels of ‘literacy’ change with social, economic and technological development: literacy is indeed a ‘moving target’. This chapter focuses on the key issues raised by Carman Hunter, a leading authority on illiteracy in the United States. It sketches Musare Al Rawi's and Zhao Wenqing's approaches to literacy work in the Arab World and China respectively. The concept of literacy went through a number of stages in the Arab region. The chapter provides a brief review of these concepts. Fundamental education was meant to compensate for the lack of educational service. The concept of community development was presented in the mid-fifties after the emergence of the role of the state in the Third World in activating the process of development. To carry out continuing education after the elimination of illiteracy, one must follow the characteristics and law of adult education.
