Although the problem of illiteracy has been the subject of much debate, recent reports assess that there are approximately 59 million out-of-school children in India alone. Due to socio-economic factors, the enrollment of girls is low and dropout rates for both boys and girls are high. Child labor, emotional and physical abuse, class and caste structures, lack of access to schools and other educational opportunities, and shortage of teaching professionals, contribute to the prevention of literacy in many rural areas across the world.

Due to poor economic, social, and political growth, rural areas are not able to provide any alternative educational spaces where literacy practices would enable children to counter the complex forces that prevent achievement and success.