The Arab League
Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) said in a statement
from its headquarters in "Tunisia" two days before the revival of the
International Literacy Day which is today September 8th, that it feared
the lack of real progress in the eradication of illiteracy in the Arab world.
The illiterate Arabs aged between (15-45) years reached up to (67) million
illiterate. On the occasion of the International Literacy Day (ALECSO) warned
that illiteracy is the greatest threat to human and economic development in the
Arab world, and invited Arab States to give absolute priority to literacy
resistance in development projects and programs. Statistics indicated
approximately (27.9%) of residents of the Arab World in the category (15 years)
and above are illiterate which is (97.2) million illiterate.
While the "The
National Bureau of Statistics" (NBS) in the State, announced that the
literacy rate among persons aged (15-24 years) in 2010 reached (99.5%), and
would have reached up to (100%) without a small percentage of individuals who
are severely disabled. And that the net
enrolment rate in the first step of education is (98.3%), and the ratio of students
attending first grade and completing 5th grade is (97.4%). Education
up to 9th grade is mandatory in the State. (NBS) also announced the presence of (78) female
adult education centers until 2012, and (74) male centers.
"Dubai Cares" the
Emirati humanitarian organization working to improve children's access to
quality primary education in developing countries, emphasized its commitment to
ensuring that every child around the world gets a sound basic education. And
they are working in (31) developing countries to arm (8) million children with
basic education to fight against poverty, insecurity and inequality and bias.
There are (57) million children worldwide who are not in school.
The Chief Executive of
the organization said "our focus on literacy goes beyond ensuring that
children excel in reading, writing and arithmetic. There is a clear
relationship between illiteracy, poverty and prejudice. Therefore, through our
ongoing efforts aimed at both boys and girls, we are providing the bases to enable
future generations to benefit from the positive impact of education on social
and economic levels.
These efforts stemming
from social responsibility felt by Emiratis towards mankind is the embodiment
of the words of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, "the human is the
central subject of evolution in U.A.E., no distinction between old and young,
the adult share in the welfare of the State
and, therefore, since the auspicious Union started the adult education programs, a kind of parallel
education for general and technical education, attended by those who missed
formal education as children, or those looking for different skills outside the
profession". The illiteracy rate in the "U.A.E." State fell
during three decades from (80%) to (7%). Statistics show that the UAE, Qatar,
Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon would eliminate illiteracy
completely by 2015.
08/09/2013