CARACAS.—The homeland of Simón Bolívar awoke full of joy this October 28. From an early hour, the country was filled with the singing of epic songs and fresh impetus. Jubilation was visible in every plaza and corner of Venezuelan geography.

And there was more than enough reason for all that. This Friday, coinciding with the 234th anniversary of the birth of Simón Rodríguez, Venezuela was declared a territory free of illiteracy and is the second country after Cuba to attain that condition in Latin America.

“It is a veritable epic feat,” affirmed President Hugo Chávez, commenting on the significance of the event, after acknowledging that although the country has been making efforts to overcome illiteracy, the “Yes, I can!” method was the basis of the plan that made it possible to teach close to 1.5 million Venezuelans to read and write in a little over two years.