I do not think the new, young, intelligent and opened-minded Minister of Education will mind me delivering little, well-meant lectures to her from time to time. This one concerns the need to make heroic efforts to eliminate functional illiteracy from society as a matter of priority.

It has been said time and time again and I will repeat it now. Societies to the extent that they are illiterate are voiceless, powerless and culturally oppressed. They are worse off in …..