Military literacy courses in the Vardar Divisional Area

Following the end of World War I, the newly established Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes faced a high rate of illiteracy among its population. The efforts of the educational authorities were manifested in the opening of schools and the implementation of literacy programmes, both of which required considerable financial resources. The army also joined the literacy campaign, seeking not only to teach as many recruits as possible to read and write but also to provide them with additional knowledge in the field of general education. It soon became evident that more literacy courses were organized within the army than in the civilian sector, and that a considerable number of recruits also acquired practical skills that enabled them to perform certain occupations after completing their military service. In the territory of the Vardar Divisional Area, which encompassed the western part of Macedonia, all garrisons approached this campaign with great seriousness and, in cooperation with local teachers, succeeded in teaching a large number of recruits to read and write. Compared with civilian literacy programmes in Macedonia, the military courses held in the garrisons recorded a larger number of participants, achieved higher literacy rates, and were conducted more regularly and systematically, reflecting the army's serious commitment to this important educational undertaking.