Int’l Literacy Day today
Bangladesh will observe International Literacy Day today as elsewhere in the world amid confusion about the actual number of literate people in the country.
According to the Literacy Survey 2011 of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, published in July 2013, the functional literacy rate is 53.7 for the population in the ranges of 11–45 years.
The 5th Population and Household Census 2011 says that the total population of the country is 15.25 crore. On that account, 46.3 per cent of the population, or about 7.2 crore people, were illiterate.
According to the BBS, being functionally literate means having the ability to read and write sentences, possessing skills of four basic rules of arithmetic, and the ability to use of the skills in life.
The census report released in July 2012 says that 51.8 per cent of the population of seven years and above were literate.
The Human Development Index 2012 Rankings of the United Nations Development Programme says that 56.8 per cent people of 15 years and above in Bangladesh are literate. The UNDP says that there are 15.24 crore people in the country and on that count, 6.58 crore people are illiterate.
The Bureau of Non-Formal Education director general, Md Alamgir told New Age that 59.82 per cent of the people of 15 years and above are literate. On that count, 6.12 crore people are illiterate.
Former primary and mass education adviser to the caretaker government Rasheda K Choudhury, also executive director of the Campaign for Popular Education, told New Age that the literacy rate in Bangladesh ranged between 50 and 55.
Asked, the primary and mass education minister, Afsarul Ameen, told New Age that the country’s literacy rate is 71 per cent. On that count, 4.42 crore people are illiterate.
He said that many surveys had come up with varying figures but the reality was that almost 71 per cent of the people were 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.
Officials said that there were differences between government and NGO figures for the literacy rate. The government sometimes tries to exaggerate the figure while NGOs try to keep it lower.
The theme of the day this year is ‘We will all become literate and skilled: it is our goal in the 21st century.’
The government and non-government organisations have planned programmes to mark the occasion.
The primary and mass education ministry will hold a special programme in the Osmani Memorial Hall auditorium at 9:30am today. The primary and mass education ministry, Afsarul Ameen, will attend as chief guest.
A colorful rally will be brought out from the Central Shahid Minar which will march to the Osmani Memorial Hall at 8:30am.
The Non-Formal Education Bureau will hold a discussion in its auditorium at 3:00pm in the capital city.
The Campaign for Popular Education and Amar Odhikar Campaign will hold rallies, seminars, discussions and human chains across the country.
The president, Zillur Rahman, and the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, issued separate messages on the occasion.
-With New Age input
