People interpret pictures in different ways, depending on a number of things related to who they are, where they live, what they do, etc. Development workers and artists are often not aware of this. We cannot assume that people understand pictures. Experiences from many countries show that people with low literacy levels are not accustomed to the picture as a teaching medium. In many places, they do not even know how to interpret a picture, i.e., they do not recognize the objects in the picture .
Most people learn only one skill at a time.
If they do not know how to interpret a picture, they have to learn this first. They may have seen a picture on a wall, but do not know what it means. There is not much use in teaching people, using e.g. a flipchart, if they do not understand the pictures, as they will use all their energy trying to work out what is going on in the picture, rather than listen to what the extension worker is saying. In contrast to the literate communicator, the oral communicator who wants to remember an important truth, teaching or concept will clothe the treasured concept in a story that can be remembered. Stories are powerful carriers and disseminators of information among literates, but more so among illiterates.