In his opening speech for the First Scientific symposium held on the inauguration of the Centre for Adults Education, Dr. Ahmed A. Gaeis, President of Assiut University assured that illiteracy is one of the factors that threaten the advancement and development of countries. He added that it is much more dangerous than poverty and asserted that it is only through knowledge and science that communities can oppose all problems and obstacles hindering the advancement process. The attendees included Dr. Omar M. Hamza, Chairman of the executive authority for illiteracy eradication and adult education, Dr. Moheb Al-Rafeey, former Minister of Education, Dr. Adel Rasmy Hammad, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Dr. Ahmed H. Abdul-Moteiy, Director of the Centre for Adult Education, and a large number of Faculty members from different Egyptian Universities, and other officials from the civilian community institutions.