text: 242. Widespread illiteracy exists in many developing countries because educational oppor.tunities are not yet readily available to millions of People. As recently as l98O' about 38 per cent of the adult males (aged 15 and over) and 58 per cent of the adutt females idere illiterate in the developing market economies (see table 38). Tlre illiteracy rates were lower for the 15 to 19 age group in these countries - 23 per cent of males and 38 per cent of femalea, but still high enough to indicate that aatul-t illiteracy is likely to remain a major problem for several nore decades in many of the countries. 243. Eiqh ilLiteracy rates are in large measure a result of still inadequate enrolment in primary schools. In 1980 only an estimated 75 Per cent of boys aqetl 6 to u and 59 per cent of girls of the same ag€ eere enrolled in' schools in the developing market economies. Althougb these figures show considerable improvement over the respective 65 per cent and 48 per cent enrolment rates in L970' the outlook for continued improvements in enrolmenE anal literacy, particularly in the least developed countries, ls discouraging. 244. Althouqh the reasons for illiteracy in any particular country are complex, it is generally true that with few exceptions the poorer countries have a higher rate of illiteracy. The problem tends to be more acute In rural areas, where there areA/ 40 /5t9 Enql-i sh Page lI0
analysis: The text discusses the issue of illiteracy in developing countries, highlighting the reasons behind it, such as limited educational opportunities and inadequate enrollment in primary schools. The text also touches on the correlation between poverty and illiteracy, suggesting that poorer countries tend to have higher rates of illiteracy. This analysis suggests that the category that best fits this text is Education, as it focuses on the lack of educational opportunities and the impact on illiteracy rates.