The illiteracy problem is the result of the Child Cenetered, Whole Language drivel that is followed like a religion by the teaching profession. I spent a long time trying to tell these people that it is actually fairly easy to teach a child to read and spell, if one uses the correct methods. They didn’t want to hear a word of it.
I suspected it was intentional 30 years ago, but in light of today’s world, I have no doubt it was intentional. Dumb down society and control. It’s very clear.
The intentionality was due to laziness on the part of teachers.