Efforts to Eradicate Illiteracy, Candle in The Wind [Archives:2001/04/Culture]

By: Ismael Al-Ghabery
Wherever ignorance and illiteracy prevail, efforts for the better are bound to fail. In Yemen, illiteracy is still a terrible inheritance that requires great efforts to get rid of. Illiteracy is a common phenomena that is observed in all societies. It has been attracting the attention of all nations and many international organizations in the fight against it.
Before the revolution, education was looked upon as a privilege determined by how close a person was to the authorities. Hence, a small number of people had the golden chance to attend the generally unavailable schools. This situation changed after the revolution, which set out to confront the fact that the nations basic demands were not being met.
Seven Million illiterates!
Although 39 years has elapsed since the revolution, illiteracy is still prevalent despite all efforts to eradicate it. Moreover, instead of flocking towards schools, students flock out of them to join the huge caravan of illiterates.
According to illiteracy eradication and adult education authorities, the number of illiterates keeps going up. In 1994, illiterates were estimated at 5,381,150. In addition, about 250-300 thousand cases of truancy were recorded in the same year. Instead of going down, the number of illiterates rose up by 1,5 million during the past 6 years. Most of these illiterates are women concentrated in the countryside.
Previous Experiences
To be more moderate, none can deny the efforts of the authorities concerned to fight illiteracy during the years beginning from 1970 when the law of illiteracy eradication and adult education was issued. Issuance was followed by execution of the first experimental project in cooperation with the Arab System to Eradicate Illiteracy. The project (1971-1972) included Sanaa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Ibb and Al-Beidhaa (Radaa). Thirty two classrooms were opened for about 1111 learners of which 837 learners completed the course.
Activity Learning
Another program for adult education began in 1977 following the issuance of the National Project for Informal Education and Basic Training. This new experience concentrated on activity learning in activity training centers.
Achievement
In the southern and eastern governorates illiteracy was estimated at 90% upon independence. In 1973, illiterates were estimated at 736,224, or. 46,2% of the total population.
Illiterates increase
Realizing the importance of education to preserve unity, republican decree No. 28 for 1992 was issued to establish illiteracy eradication and adult education as one of the main responsibilities of the Ministry of Education. Through evaluating its work, the Ministry found out that illiteracy zoomed up from 3,300,741 to 5,381,150 in 1994. The increase was attributed to the following:
1) High population growth: 3.7% per year.
2) The field of general formal education does not have the capacity to include all 6-9 year-old children who are eligible to go to school. The percentage of boy students included in the general formal education is 79.4% while the percentage of girl students reached only 28.2% of the total eligible number. The remainder of children, of course, are added to the number of illiterates.
3) Demographic survey for 1991-1992 showed that the percentage of children between 6-15 included in the general education is only 57.4% of the total number of people at this sage.
4) Illiterate immigrants
5) The problem is bigger than the efforts exerted
6) Lack of national organizations to train teachers for illiteracy eradication and adult education.
It is very important at this point to stress the importance of education. It is also important to stress the fact that commitment is a must in order to make any project a success. Yemen will not get rid of illiteracy unless joint efforts are exerted and more financial potentials are sacrificed.

——
[archive-e:04-v:2001-y:2001-d:2001-01-22-p:./2001/iss04/culture.htm]