- Title: IRAQ: Iraq fights illiteracy
- Date: 14th November 2012
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RA'ED ALI FAROUN, HEAD OF ILLITERACY ERADICATION DEPARTMENT AT BASRA GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION, SAYING: "Literacy law No 23 from 2011 differs from the 1978 law No 92 of the former regime. The former law was based on intimidation, the imposition of a prison sentence on those who did not join learning centres. The current law attracts learners by
- Embargoed: 29th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Education,Education
- Reuters ID: LVA7ZFRZE1PNGOT0JOETR5G22ZDH
- Story Text: Illiterate adults attend classes in Iraq's southern province of Basra to learn how to read and write as part of a major national campaign to eradicate illiteracy.
As part of a national campaign to eradicate illiteracy in Iraq, the southern province of Basra is offering courses for all age groups to learn how to read and write.
The campaign was launched in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and with the support of civil society organisations and institutions in the province in implementation of a literacy law enacted in 2011.
A recent statement by Iraq's Ministry of Education showed that one fifth of the population in the 10-49 age group is illiterate. The report blamed the high illiteracy rates on consecutive wars and ensuing poverty and difficult economic conditions which forced many families to send their children to search for work instead of to classrooms.
Literacy classes in Basra were filled with young men and women of all ages.
According to Ra'ed Faroun, Head of the illiteracy Eradicating department at Basra's General Directorate of Education, a total of 67 adult learning centres have been opened in the province so far, the number is expected to be increased to 350-400 centres in the future.
"Basra's General Directorate of Education has opened 67 male and female learning centres attended so far by 2,312 males and 2,576 females. Learning centres have been opened in various parts of Basra from the north to the south including the districts of Faw, Abu al-Khaseeb, al-Mdayna, Qurna and Al-Zubair," Faroun said.
He added that there are no reliable up-to-date statistics on illiteracy rates in Iraq. The last census in Iraq took place in 1997; therefore all statistics available are based on data more than a decade old. However, a more recent survey carried out by the Basra education department put the number of illiterate people in the province at 429,171.
Faroun stressed that it is never too late to learn how to read and write.
"The people targeted by the literacy campaign are those aged 15 and above. There is no [upper] age limit, and this means that even those who are 80 or 90 years old can join the programme, because all people have the right to education," Faroun said.
Upon completion of the programme, students receive a certificate equivalent to grade four of formal education.
According to Faroun, illiterate members of the armed forces have to join the programme and get the certificate or lose their jobs. For others, there are incentives to learn: literate farmers will be entitled to government loans and grants and skilled workers who can read and write will have the chance to get a job in government offices.
"Literacy law No 23 from 2011 differs from the 1978 law No 92 of the former regime. The former law was based on intimidation, the imposition of a prison sentence on those who did not join learning centres. The current law attracts learners by offering them a chance to learn. And so they come with a desire to learn," Faroun said.
Majid Abdul Saddah explained that the 14-months long learning programme is divided into two levels: an elementary and a more advanced course.
"There are mixed centres and there are also centres for males and others for females. This is a mixed centre. We have 25 women and 75 men here and the numbers are rising. Some of them had taken literacy classes before while others dropped out of school and can read and write, but did not get a certificate. They will be divided into two levels; the first level is elementary and the second is a complementary one. Those who can read and write will be enrolled in the complementary level."
Classes are held for two days a week on the normal school weekend - to avoid overcrowding in school buildings. They last for three hours a day.
A comprehensive campaign to eradicate illiteracy during the 1970s and 1980s helped to increase literacy rates considerably. But many education programmes came to a halt with the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980.
Literacy student Hamdan Ammir said the literacy programme was a blessing for those who did not learn to read and write as children.
"We do not know how to read and write. We were deprived of schools and now we see literacy centres as a blessing for us. We started to learn how to read and write. Like the blind, we were unable to read signs we saw in the street and our children ask us for help with their homework, but we cannot read or write. It was very hard. We are farmers and we keep animals and we did not attend schools."
The World Bank has said the quality of education in the Arab world is falling behind other regions in the world and needs urgent reform, urging Arab states to make education a higher priority.
The report ranked Iraq and other regions in Asia among the worst educational reformers.
It said that although education was becoming more accessible and the gender gap was being reduced, the region had not witnessed the positive changes seen in Asia and Latin America, particularly in literacy rates and enrolments in secondary schools and universities. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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