M. A. Jabbar :
UNESCO in 1965 declared September 8 as International Literacy Day. Since 1966 the day is observed worldwide among the member countries. On the day, UNESCO reminds the international community of the importance of literacy to everybody in the society. The theme of the day this year is : Literacy and sustainable societies. Literacy is not just about educating, it is a unique and powerful tool to eradicate poverty and a strong means for social and human progress. The focus of literacy lies in acquiring basic education for all, eradicating poverty, reducing infant mortality, simmering down population growth, reaching gender equality, and ensuring constant development, peace and democracy. A literate person is one, who can with understanding both read and write a short statement relevant to routine life, and capable of analytical understanding of men’s condition in the world. To quote UNESCO Director General – Literacy is much more than an educational policy-it is the ultimate investment in the future and the first step towards all the new forms of literacy required in the twenty-first century. We wish to see a century where every child is able to read and to use this skill to gain autonomy. As such for over 40 years UNESCO has been celebrating international literacy day by reminding the international community that literacy is human right and the foundation of all learning.
Date reveals that in 2011, 87% of female youth had basic literacy skills compared to 92% of males. Overall more than half of countries have youth literacy rates of 95% or higher. Despite these gains, 774 million adults (15 years and older) still cannot read or write, two thirds of them (493 millin) are women. Among youth, 123 million are illiterate of which 76 million are female. Even though the size of the global illiterate population is shrinking, the female proportion has remained virtually steady at 63% to 64%.
According to UNESCO’s Global Monitoring Report on Education for All (2006), south and west Asia has the lowest regional adult literacy rate(54.6%), followed by sub-Saharan African(59.5%) and the Arab States (62.7%). Countries with the lowest literacy rates in the world are Burkina faso(12.8%), Niger (14.4%), Mali(19%). The report shows a clear connection between illiteracy and countries with severe poverty and between literacy and prejudice against women.
Realizing the importance of literacy governments of the world have chalked out various programme on a greater scale in collaboration with various agencies of the United Nations. These are i. Education for all ii.Millennium development goals iii.United Nations literacy decade and iv. United Nations decade of education for constant development. Although these programmes have become successful, but still a good section of country’s population is still non-literate worldwide and as such, many things remain to do on the part of governments, different agencies, NGOs and individuals for successful implementation of the literacy programmes for sustainable development.
With a surface area of 147570 square kilometers (56,977 square miles) Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country in the world. There is an average of 964.42 people for every square kilometer of land, and in terms of density alone; it is in the ninth position. One estimates predicts that population will be nearly 200 million by 2020 with 40 percent under the age of 15 years of age. The number is likely to be 220 million by 2050. As no development work can be achieved keeping mass people illiterate, as such, Government of Bangladesh has given priority on mass education for making the people of the country as worthy citizens befitting to the needs of the century. Accordingly, it has achieved appreciable targets of Millennium Development Goals in expansion of primary and secondary education, reduction in many aspects of women’s empowerment and gender disparity, eradication of hunger and environmental sustainability, reduction of maternal, infant and child mortality.
As per report 2012 on MDG, Bangladesh made progress towards increasing equitable access in education (Net Enrolment Rate:98.7 percent; girls 99.4 percent, boys: 97.2 percent), reduction of dropouts, improvement in completion of the cycle, and implementation of a number of quality enhancement measures in primary education. It further reveals that Bangladesh has already achieved gender parity in primary and secondary enrolment. Initiatives have been taken to introduce pre-school education to prepare the children for formal schooling. The government in the process of implementing a comprehensive National Education Policy (2010) to achieve its objectives. The policy provides Bangladesh’s intention to ensure all citizens with a quality education. The policy aims to reduce regional and gender based disparities in education and has a section on women’s education. Bangladesh, like all other modern countries wants to educate all women to unleash their potential so that they can become confident citizens contributing to social and economic development. The constitution of Bangladesh has provision for free and compulsory primary education. The challenges under MDG included attaining the targets of primary education completion rate and the adult literacy rate. A large part of the physically and mentally retarded children remains out of the schooling system
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey report reveals that the country’s literacy rate of the population aged above 15 reached 59.82 per cent while the illiteracy rate is 40.18 and the literacy of women is 55.71. According to BBS, the literacy rate has been increased substantially (11.75%) and this has been possible due to government’s untiring efforts to implement the plan of literacy programme.
The government’s project for launching Fundamental Literacy Project in as much as 64 districts will help provide fundamental literacy knowledge to 4.5 million illiterate people of ages 15 to 45.
The government has taken various efforts so that our literacy programme becomes reality oriented. We must need skilled manpower to boost up our economy. Our labor force needs training so that they can earn and send double amount of remittance to our country. One report shows that there is already a new record of inward remittance in the recently ended financial year July 2014 to june 2015. The news is a matter of pride and pleasure for all of us. Not only in remittance but also in various other sectors we can maximize our growth trend by imparting training to our manpower. Creating skilled manpower through training is also related to literacy programme for improvement of quality of life. With this end in view, government has given priority towards expanding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among all sectors of the country.
We have already earned appreciable targets in GDP. We need further growth in GDP and GNP and we also wish our GDH(Gross Domestic Happiness) flourish further. This is possible through such learing that can ensure morality for sustainable development. We are fortunate, as we believe that we have the opportunity to acquire education to eradicate poverty from the society and build a strong mechanism for our social and human progress which is the basic requirement of GDH. We must acquire education that can help us to avoid all odds and accept all the best things for the welfare of the people. We must hate drug and help others to lead healthy life. Facts reveal that around 210 million people or 4.8 percent of population aged 15-64 took illicit substances at least once in 2010. Government of Bangladesh has become signatory of various international treaties to combat drug and took a lot of measures to address the drug related problems for a health and welfare of the people of the country.
Nothing to deny that we have obstacles to eradicate illiteracy. We have obstacles for enrollment in primary education. These include poverty, gender, environmental factors, school distance, parent’s attitude etc. Some parts of the country like hoar and char areas are lagging behind the national rate. Many areas remain under water during flood and rainy season. Environmental factors and natural calamities act as obstacles for some parts of the country. Nevertheless, obstacles cannot and should not stand on our journey towards mass education. Various NGOs, social workers and philanthropic institutions and individuals are working with the government to address the problem. We have to work hard for further progress. The role of family is also vital.
International literacy day is an opportunity for us to work with fresh vow with the international community. We wish our literacy programme be successful with the united efforts of all for sustainable development.
UNESCO in 1965 declared September 8 as International Literacy Day. Since 1966 the day is observed worldwide among the member countries. On the day, UNESCO reminds the international community of the importance of literacy to everybody in the society. The theme of the day this year is : Literacy and sustainable societies. Literacy is not just about educating, it is a unique and powerful tool to eradicate poverty and a strong means for social and human progress. The focus of literacy lies in acquiring basic education for all, eradicating poverty, reducing infant mortality, simmering down population growth, reaching gender equality, and ensuring constant development, peace and democracy. A literate person is one, who can with understanding both read and write a short statement relevant to routine life, and capable of analytical understanding of men’s condition in the world. To quote UNESCO Director General – Literacy is much more than an educational policy-it is the ultimate investment in the future and the first step towards all the new forms of literacy required in the twenty-first century. We wish to see a century where every child is able to read and to use this skill to gain autonomy. As such for over 40 years UNESCO has been celebrating international literacy day by reminding the international community that literacy is human right and the foundation of all learning.
Date reveals that in 2011, 87% of female youth had basic literacy skills compared to 92% of males. Overall more than half of countries have youth literacy rates of 95% or higher. Despite these gains, 774 million adults (15 years and older) still cannot read or write, two thirds of them (493 millin) are women. Among youth, 123 million are illiterate of which 76 million are female. Even though the size of the global illiterate population is shrinking, the female proportion has remained virtually steady at 63% to 64%.
According to UNESCO’s Global Monitoring Report on Education for All (2006), south and west Asia has the lowest regional adult literacy rate(54.6%), followed by sub-Saharan African(59.5%) and the Arab States (62.7%). Countries with the lowest literacy rates in the world are Burkina faso(12.8%), Niger (14.4%), Mali(19%). The report shows a clear connection between illiteracy and countries with severe poverty and between literacy and prejudice against women.
Realizing the importance of literacy governments of the world have chalked out various programme on a greater scale in collaboration with various agencies of the United Nations. These are i. Education for all ii.Millennium development goals iii.United Nations literacy decade and iv. United Nations decade of education for constant development. Although these programmes have become successful, but still a good section of country’s population is still non-literate worldwide and as such, many things remain to do on the part of governments, different agencies, NGOs and individuals for successful implementation of the literacy programmes for sustainable development.
With a surface area of 147570 square kilometers (56,977 square miles) Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country in the world. There is an average of 964.42 people for every square kilometer of land, and in terms of density alone; it is in the ninth position. One estimates predicts that population will be nearly 200 million by 2020 with 40 percent under the age of 15 years of age. The number is likely to be 220 million by 2050. As no development work can be achieved keeping mass people illiterate, as such, Government of Bangladesh has given priority on mass education for making the people of the country as worthy citizens befitting to the needs of the century. Accordingly, it has achieved appreciable targets of Millennium Development Goals in expansion of primary and secondary education, reduction in many aspects of women’s empowerment and gender disparity, eradication of hunger and environmental sustainability, reduction of maternal, infant and child mortality.
As per report 2012 on MDG, Bangladesh made progress towards increasing equitable access in education (Net Enrolment Rate:98.7 percent; girls 99.4 percent, boys: 97.2 percent), reduction of dropouts, improvement in completion of the cycle, and implementation of a number of quality enhancement measures in primary education. It further reveals that Bangladesh has already achieved gender parity in primary and secondary enrolment. Initiatives have been taken to introduce pre-school education to prepare the children for formal schooling. The government in the process of implementing a comprehensive National Education Policy (2010) to achieve its objectives. The policy provides Bangladesh’s intention to ensure all citizens with a quality education. The policy aims to reduce regional and gender based disparities in education and has a section on women’s education. Bangladesh, like all other modern countries wants to educate all women to unleash their potential so that they can become confident citizens contributing to social and economic development. The constitution of Bangladesh has provision for free and compulsory primary education. The challenges under MDG included attaining the targets of primary education completion rate and the adult literacy rate. A large part of the physically and mentally retarded children remains out of the schooling system
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey report reveals that the country’s literacy rate of the population aged above 15 reached 59.82 per cent while the illiteracy rate is 40.18 and the literacy of women is 55.71. According to BBS, the literacy rate has been increased substantially (11.75%) and this has been possible due to government’s untiring efforts to implement the plan of literacy programme.
The government’s project for launching Fundamental Literacy Project in as much as 64 districts will help provide fundamental literacy knowledge to 4.5 million illiterate people of ages 15 to 45.
The government has taken various efforts so that our literacy programme becomes reality oriented. We must need skilled manpower to boost up our economy. Our labor force needs training so that they can earn and send double amount of remittance to our country. One report shows that there is already a new record of inward remittance in the recently ended financial year July 2014 to june 2015. The news is a matter of pride and pleasure for all of us. Not only in remittance but also in various other sectors we can maximize our growth trend by imparting training to our manpower. Creating skilled manpower through training is also related to literacy programme for improvement of quality of life. With this end in view, government has given priority towards expanding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among all sectors of the country.
We have already earned appreciable targets in GDP. We need further growth in GDP and GNP and we also wish our GDH(Gross Domestic Happiness) flourish further. This is possible through such learing that can ensure morality for sustainable development. We are fortunate, as we believe that we have the opportunity to acquire education to eradicate poverty from the society and build a strong mechanism for our social and human progress which is the basic requirement of GDH. We must acquire education that can help us to avoid all odds and accept all the best things for the welfare of the people. We must hate drug and help others to lead healthy life. Facts reveal that around 210 million people or 4.8 percent of population aged 15-64 took illicit substances at least once in 2010. Government of Bangladesh has become signatory of various international treaties to combat drug and took a lot of measures to address the drug related problems for a health and welfare of the people of the country.
Nothing to deny that we have obstacles to eradicate illiteracy. We have obstacles for enrollment in primary education. These include poverty, gender, environmental factors, school distance, parent’s attitude etc. Some parts of the country like hoar and char areas are lagging behind the national rate. Many areas remain under water during flood and rainy season. Environmental factors and natural calamities act as obstacles for some parts of the country. Nevertheless, obstacles cannot and should not stand on our journey towards mass education. Various NGOs, social workers and philanthropic institutions and individuals are working with the government to address the problem. We have to work hard for further progress. The role of family is also vital.
International literacy day is an opportunity for us to work with fresh vow with the international community. We wish our literacy programme be successful with the united efforts of all for sustainable development.
(M.A. Jabbar writes on health and environment issues and is executive secretary of ADHUNIK, national anti-tobacco organization of Bangladesh.)
