UNESCO estimates that Bangladesh will fail to reach its target of the percentage of adults who in 2015 will be able to read and write by ‘more than 5 percentage points.’
The fourth Education for All goal, set by the UN agency, states that adult literacy in 2015 should be 50 per cent more than the level was in 2000, particularly for women, and that there should be equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults.
A June 2013 UNESCO report titled ‘Adult and Youth Literacy, 1990-2015: National, Regional and Global Trends, 1985-2015’ projected that in 2015 Bangladesh’s literacy rate among people aged 15 years and above was likely to reach 61 per cent – with literacy among males at 65 per cent and among females at 58 per cent.
The UNESCO report, however, states that Bangladesh will miss the target. ‘[Bangladesh is] likely to be more than 5 percentage points below the target adult literacy rate in 2015,’ it states.
The report said that in the 2001 the average literacy rate was 48 per cent – 54 per cent of males and 41 per cent of females literate.
By 2011, UNESCO stated that the literacy rate had risen to 58 per cent.
But the Bureau of Non-Formal Education director general, Md Alamgir told New Age that according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, about 60 per cent of people aged 15 years and above were literate, the primary and mass education minister, Afsarul Ameen, however, claimed that the country’s literacy rate was ‘71 per cent.’
‘Practically 100 per cent of children are enrolled in primary schools. With the dropout rate at 29 per cent, it stands at 71 per cent,’ he said.
‘While many surveys have come up with varying figures, the reality is that almost 71 per cent of the people are literate.’
He said that in keeping with the election pledge of the ruling alliance, his ministry was working relentlessly to eradicate illiteracy completely from the country by 2014.
The government and non-government organisations held various programmes to mark International Literacy Day on Sunday.
The primary and mass education ministry held a special programme in the Osmani Memorial Hall auditorium.
A colourful rally was brought out from the Central Shaheed Minar which marched to the Osmani Memorial Hall.
The Non-Formal Education Bureau held a discussion in its auditorium.
The Campaign for Popular Education and Amar Odhikar Campaign also held rallies, seminars, discussions and human chains across the country.
-With New Age input
