Is it that difficult to read instructions?

I remember back during school days when we were sitting for examinations, teachers were always reminding and advising students to read and understand the instructions on the exam papers.  I may not remember all the things that were taught in school but that piece of advice has stuck with me long after I left school.

An instruction need not be something that is on paper alone.  In our daily lives, we are dealt with countless instructions, whether in college, at work, at home, etc etc.  An instruction can tell guide you towards doing something the right way and it is important that one listens or reads instructions. Some people simply do not understand the importance of reading instructions or they just do not bother to read them. 

I am dealing with one such subordinate at work and I find it extremely annoying, not to mention frustrating. Oral instructions given have to be reiterated many times.  Written instructions were not read or comprehended, resulting in work not done properly and me having to check this person's work.  I'm not dealing with a fresh grad or a junior level staff...this is someone who has several years of working experience and is paid senior level scale salary but yet make tons of mistakes each time and has to be constantly prompted to finish off a given task.  It is just pure hell dealing with this type of person but thank god, this person is leaving the company soon and the replacement is someone who is more reliable and more importantly, can understand instructions.  Can't wait..........