How hard is it to read it???
If someone cannot read it then yes, that's pretty much the definition of illiterate, especially given the fact that a book has well written cursive
Cursive is almost exclusively used in handwriting when I come across it and the wide variety of ways people were taught to write letters + general handwriting quality issues make cursive a mess to read sometimes at no fault to the reader. Some cursive fonts have absolutely awful keening or too much noise and can be hard to read as well, which is an issue with the font and not the reader again.
I personally write in caps print because I know my handwriting sucks and I actually prioritize readability over fanciness or "not lifting my pen a lot"
The ruling class made it a priority to bring back facism it's way easier when you don't read. The 'Well do you want your starbucks person to do a good job' doesn't apply when you only select train your 3rd cousin to be your personal chef.
So why fund education for the peons in the mines? They can choose their choices with fear, as is tradition.