New Delhi, 2005/12/21 IRIB

"The governments of developed and developing nations have prioritized elementary education at the expense of adult literacy," said the Asia launch of the international benchmark study on quality adult literacy - "Writing the Wrong".

In spite of the staggering number of illiterate adults, state investments in literacy programs have dropped off sharply in the last two decades, revealed the study.

A panel discussion on the study, organized by educational experts from the National Coalition for Education was held in the capital of India.

The discussion revealed the myths existing on the issue of "adult literacy" that have resulted in gross violation of the rights of millions of adults and representation of unacceptable costs to society.

"Official figures reveal that 872 million adults in the world are classified as illiterate of which two thirds are women.

"Of the world's adult illiterates 34 percent are in India alone," experts revealed.