Attaining cent per cent literacy by 2030

World Literacy Day, celebrated on September 8 every year, highlights the importance and value of literacy. Literacy can also be a cause for celebration on the day because the global literacy rate for all people aged 15 and above is now 86.3 per cent. However, in Bangladesh, around 24.40 per cent of people aged 15 and older are reportedly still illiterate.
According to the UNESCO, literacy refers to the ability to read, understand, interpret orally and in writing, communicate and calculate in the mother tongue. It can be attained in two ways, formal education and non-formal literacy programmes. It is unfortunate that our policymakers remain busy only with the formal education and give little attention to those who have never gone to school or dropped out. According to the authorities concerned, the government is now working on eradication of illiteracy by 2030. If we want to achieve this target, we must focus on imparting education to the children aged 8-14 years, who either dropped out of or never went to school. With this, adult literacy programmes should also get priority.

Afroza Sheikh,
Dania, Dhaka,
ilcbd2008@gmail.com