Laos is expecting to wipe out illiteracy and provide education for all by 2015 by promoting both formal and informal education.
This was the message from Minister of Education and Sports Dr Phankham Viphavanh, who revealed the ambitious plan this week to mark the 46th International Literacy Day (8/9/1965-8/9/2011).
The World Education Meeting held in 2000 defined 2003-2012 as the United Nations Literacy Decade. The ministry will also work with all sectors concerned to promote formal and informal education, to achieve literacy and education for all.
This academic year, the ministry plans to teach literacy skills to 73,000 people. This includes 12,000 children aged 6-14, 15,000 others aged 15-24, and another 46,000 adults who will be taught the basics of reading and writing. In addition, some 40,000 people will receive primary level education.
There are now 95 literate districts in the country out of a total of 143, and the ministry is expected to declare 10 more districts as literate communities by the end of this academic year.
While the empowering role of literacy and its significance for development have been recognised worldwide, there are still 776 million illiterate adults in the world and 75 million children out of school whose rights and needs remain unfulfilled.
Literacy, in fact, is by far the most neglected goal on the education agenda, Dr Phankham said.
“Literacy and Peace is also the theme for the 2011-2012 biennium of the United Nations Literacy Decade,” he noted.
He urged all sectors to work together to strengthen the education system and turn the ‘Education for All' plan into reality.
Dr Phankham said the most important thing was for all education departments, districts, teachers and village leaders around the country to work with local authorities to encourage illiterate people to go back to school.
By learning to read and write, they would improve and develop their lives and their communities.
To reach the government's target, we require all the services and departments involved to work together to raise the standard of our education system throughout the country, he said.
“ Literacy is not just about reading and writing, it is about self-respect and human dignity and about opportunities that give hope to individuals, families, communities and entire societies,” Dr Phankham said.
However, despite clear evidence of the power of literacy to transform individual lives and patterns of social development, in many parts of the world there is neither the political will nor the resources to make youth and adult literacy an area of priority.
September 8 was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO on November 17, 1965. It was first celebrated in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.
On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally and celebrations take place around the world.
