Jehovah's Witnesses have for many years helped people to learn to read and write, and first officially established literacy classes in 1949 in their congregations in many African countries at Kingdom Halls or other suitable venues; in some places, entire villages have been invited to attend. Jehovah's Witnesses cooperate with government-sponsored literacy programs where possible, or develop their own manuals and courses as required. Tens of thousands of people have become literate as a result of these programs.

Any Jehovah's Witnesses congregation which believes its community could benefit from reading and literacy classes may sponsor a local class using the free texts Learn to Read and Write and Apply Yourself to Reading and Writing;  other supplemental materials may also be used. Classes are considered an adjunct to the congregation's Theocratic Ministry School; while students are typically drawn from among those who regularly attend that congregation's meetings for worship, it is not a requirement.

Governmental and academic acknowledgment

Watch Tower publications have cited various commendations from governmental and academic authorities for their literacy programs in developing nations.

Africa:

• Congo - On November 17, 2000, the Association of Congolese and African Journalists for the Development (AJOCAD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo presented the Certificate of Excellence to Jehovah's Witnesses for "their contribution to the development of the Congolese individual [through] the education and the teaching contained in their publications."

• Mozambique - In 2001, a national broadcast reported that 10,000 had benefited from the literacy programs of Jehovah's Witnesses in Mozambique. The broadcast included a speech by President Chissano which said in part, “It is very encouraging for us to see the interest of many people in literacy. ... I would just like to encourage Jehovah’s Witnesses to intensify their literacy programs, in whatever language.”

South America:

The elderly in Brazil often need to learn to read and write. The Jehovah's Witness program to teach the elderly has been so effective that "after just 120 hours of classes, they are writing letters, reading newspapers, and coping with numbers and other day-to-day tasks." The literacy classes conducted in hundreds of Kingdom Halls throughout Brazil have already helped more than 22,000 adults in that country to learn to read and write.

• Brazil - The Brazilian newspaper Diário de Mogi published an article entitled “Jehovah’s Witnesses Wage War Against Illiteracy.” It stated: “A qualified instructor sets about ... to patiently teach others to read and write. ... The pupils, because of the very circumstances impelling them as ministers of God, must develop their knowledge of the language in order to give discourses.”  

• Brasil - "The chief of police in Ferros, Minas Gerais, sent a letter of commendation to the [Watch Tower] Society for the work done in teaching prisoners in jail there, saying: “Whether from the spiritual point of view or from the material side, Jehovah’s Witnesses have collaborated with this chief of police in teaching prisoners to read. Like fine rain that falls silently but that can cause rivers to overflow, they have done much to integrate the prisoners into society.”"

• Mexico - "In Mexico, the Watch Tower Society has operated literacy classes since 1946. ... Between 1946 and 1994, more than 127,000 were helped to become literate. ... [A] civil servant wrote: “in behalf of the state government I convey to you their most sincere congratulations for your noble progressive work for the benefit of the people in bringing the light of knowledge to the illiterate. ... I wish you success in your educational work.”"

• Mexico - "In a letter dated January 25, 1966, the government said: “By agreement of the General Director, I am pleased to congratulate your Institution ... for the patriotic cooperation that you have been giving to the illiterate people of the Republic. ... I hope that your enthusiasm does not diminish for continuing this persistent fight against illiteracy in which all good Mexicans are engaged.”

• Mexico - A director of the "General Office for Adult Education" within Mexico's Department of Public Education wrote to a Jehovah's Witnesses association, “I take this opportunity to warmly congratulate you ... for the praiseworthy cooperation that your association has been extending year after year in benefit of our people.”

Pacific Islands:

• Tuvalu - Former prime minister Dr. T. Puapua wrote: "My government and I are especially happy... It is my belief that this work will be written into the history of Tuvalu with regard to the printing of educational books.”

Sources:

1. Jehovah's Witnesses Teaching Programs. Wikipedia.org. (Retrieved November 14, 2009). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_teaching_programs

2. Literacy. Jehovah's Witnesses Media. (Retrieved November 14, 2009.

http://www.jw-media.org/aboutjw/article44.htm 

Brazil - 22,000 taught to read and write

          - Prisoners taught to read and write

Mozambique - 10,000 taught to date. (2001)

Mexico - More than 127,000 (1946-1994)

Solomon Islands - Delighted That They Learned to Read - Watchtower.org official site