Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Kabul (BNA) Criticizing on inattention of the government in the field of literacy in the country, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative on Afghanistan said, ‘currently, there are 11 millions of Afghans are deprived of literacy throughout the country.’
The UNESCO representative on Afghanistan, Patrisha Mac Philips, in a gathering held in Kabul told media that the literacy has not been in priorities of the Afghan government over the last fifteen years.
She said, ‘right now, about 11 millions of people aged higher than 15 are illiterate, most of whom are women and girls.’
Expressing concern on education situation in Afghanistan, she called illiteracy a great challenge, adding based on current statistics, 45 percent of men and 63 percent of women living in the villages are illiterate.
In the gathering, the minister of education said, ’60 percent of the country’s population are illiterate, most of whom are women.’
Asadullah Hanif Balkhi, the minister of education added that almost 11 millions of people aged higher than 15 are illiterate, as 500,000 of them have been enrolled in 15000 literacy centers all-over the country.
He said, ‘annually, about 300 to 350 thousands of people are succeed to complete the literacy programs and they can finally be able to write and read.’
At the same time, Sardar Mohammad Rahimi, deputy minister on literacy affairs said, ‘Afghanistan is among the three countries of the world where is seriously faced with illiteracy.’
The government has provided a proposal names ‘National Mobilization’ to fight illiteracy—an issue that has been approved by a cabinet committee chaired by Second Vice President, Mohammad Sarwar Danesh and will soon come into effect after full review.
Based on this program, the literacy programs’ method will be changed and new educational books will be provided.
A number of Kabul citizens said, ‘most of the Afghans, particularly the women are deprived of literacy due to unacceptable traditions in the country.’
Shayesta, a woman said that her family didn’t let her continue her education after sixth grade.
In fact, most of the women are deprived of education in the country due to many reasons, such as, poverty, unacceptable traditions, etc. Therefore, it is hoped that by implementation of the National Mobilization program, the way is provided to people to join the literacy programs and be able to write and read.
Shukria Kohistani
