Illiteracy still a problem in Arab world

Thursday, September 09, 2004

BEIRUT: Since Sept. 8, 1967, when International Literacy Day was first initiated by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the number of illiterate people around the world has significantly diminished. But despite the progress, some 860 million adults worldwide still do not know how to read or write, according to a report issued by Unesco on Tuesday.

In the Arab world, the picture is still bleak. According to World Bank education statistics from 2001-2002, illiteracy in the region is about 33 percent, though just 14 percent in Lebanon and 20 percent globally.

Unesco statistics from 2000 pegged female illiteracy at over 50 percent in Arab states, compared with slightly less than that in sub-Saharan Africa. The same statistics showed that, in Lebanon, some 20 percent of women were illiterate, compared to 7.9 percent for men.

Unesco's 2000 "Education for All" report based its statistics on a Lebanese population of four million.

In this context, and since this year's International Literacy Day's theme is "literacy and gender," Unesco director general Koichiro Matsuura called for special attention for women, and the promotion of gender equality in literacy education.

The surveys did not take into consideration children under 15, on the grounds that they still have the chance at an education.

Meanwhile, the Children's Interactive Community, a nongovernmental organization based in Beirut, is doing its best to make this happen.

Dealing with dropout cases in the area of Bourj al-Barajneh, CIC activities focus on eradicating illiteracy - and after three months of intensive courses, some of the children helped by the NGO will find their way back to school.

In trying to find the best way to help the children, CIC staffers developed a concept called "edutainment."

"We want to educate via entertainment, making it lighter and easier for the children to receive," said program coordinator Rana Rahal.

However, one problem facing Arabs and Lebanese is aliteracy - i.e., those who can read, but aren't interested in doing so.

Though Beirut is alleged to be "the cultural capital of the Arab world," said Margo Malatjalian, an author of children's books and a literacy development activist, it has just one public library.

She adds, and "since no Arab organization will ever take notice of the subject, it is the duty of the public to act."

By Linda Dahdah Daily Star staff