so much so that by the late 1980s only the most
honest countries confessed to having as many as
half their population illiterate, and only ten – all but
Afghanistan in Africa – were prepared to admit that
less than 20% of their population could read or write.
(Hobsbawm, 1994, p. 295)
b) Nearly as dramatic as the decline of the peasantry
was the rise of professions which required secondary
and higher education. Primary education for everyone
(basic literacy) was the aspiration of nearly all
governments, so that by the late 1980s only the very
honest countries confessed to having as many as half
their population illiterate. Only ten (African) countries
conceded that less than 20% of their population were
literate. (Hobsbawm, 1994, p. 295)
c) As Hobsbawm (1994) argues, there was a marked
increase in jobs needing secondary or higher
education during the twentieth century. All but a few
nations claimed that the majority of their people were
literate. Universal primary education i.e. basic literacy
was indeed the aspiration of virtually all governments.
(p. 295)
d) There was a sharp and widespread increase in
occupations requiring education above primary level.
All governments set out to provide basic education,
essentially literacy, for their people. By the end of the
1980s very few states would admit that the majority
of their population were unable to read. (Hobsbawm,
1994, p. 295)
3. What makes the difference between plagiarised and acceptable
work? List your ideas below.
Acceptable Plagiarised