The education sector needs to address numerous global changes so that it can truly claim that it is responsive to the learning needs of a fast-emerging knowledge society. The human infrastructure of the future will require much higher levels of skills and competencies; therefore, drastic redirections in teaching strategies and approaches are urgently needed.

The need for such redirections is much more pronounced in the literacy and nonformal sectors, as they have to contend with added social concerns. Among those are: the varied socio-cultural and economic backgrounds of the learners, language diversities, client-based learning approaches and non-traditional measures and schemes in measuring performance.

The foregoing and several other concerns were discussed in-depth during the First Asian Literacy Regional Forum held in Manila, Philippines in 1997. Some of these concerns are presented in this issue.

"Literacy and the Economic Context: The Cultural Dimension of Development" likens the cultural milieu of a community in Southern Philippines to a game in which there are participants, place, activities and rules. The procedure for analysis and formulation of diagnostic questions are also described in the article.

"Making it to the 21st Century: The Role of NGOs in Redefining Functional Literacy" describes the state-of-the-art and practice of NGO work in the Philippines, insofar as service delivery of literacy and nonformal education are concerned. These NGOs generally enjoy the advantages of accessibility, efficiency in community organizing and mobilization, and having strong grassroot linkages .

"Literacy in the Workplace" discusses the requirements for workplace literacy identified by the Confederation of British Industry, namely: values and integrity, effective communication, application of numeracy, application of technology, understanding of work and the world, personal and interpersonal skills, and positive attitude toward change. The article emphasizes that this age of globalization requires organizations that believe in learning as the key to development.

"Linking Literacy to Education Through Open and Distance Learning" presents a case study which uses innovative and distance education program for neo-literates. Specifically, the article profiles the origins, objectives, organization and implementation components of the program. Although it is still in its developmental stage, the instructional materials have been translated into two regional languages and 20 districts from four states have been translated onto two regional languages and 20 districts from our states have been identified for pilot implementation.

"Women's Literacy: The Connection to Health and Family Planning" presents a model showing four mechanisms which mediate between education, health and family, namely: time which is translated into the delay in which girls marry; disposition means that women who are literate or educated have the acquired dispositions that make them choose to have fewer children as they are aware children need attention; literacy indicates that women can communicate better their families' needs and conditions to health workers; and, knowledge.

Two papers presented in the 1997 Literacy Conference organized by the Philippine Literacy Coordinating Council last September 3-5,1997 round out this issue of the INNOTECH Journal.

"Functional Literacy Experience: The Women in Enterprise Development Project" tells the story of a highly successful non-government organization for women in Southern Philippines which bagged the 1997 UNESCO-King Sejong International Literacy Award. The author recounts how its efforts in literacy promotion and entrepreneurial development have profited strongly from the capabilities unique to NGOs.

"Local and International Collaboration in Eradication of Illiteracy" points out that attracting the collaboration of international partners will be more feasible when local collaboration proves successful. This collaboration requires commitment, cooperation and contribution-what the eradication of illiteracy demands.