Literacy

Yesterday I met with Dr. Joshua Giddings, Vice-President for Academic Affairs. In the course of our conversation he stated that illiteracy is 85%. We were discussing the war, and he was explaining that illiteracy was in his opinion, illiteracy was a core reason why the rebels were able to successfully overthrow the government and gain control of the country. It also creates challenges for educational programs such as public health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS awareness, mosquito and pest abatement, and others. Education is key to moving the country forward.
It must be seen as imperative, if the world is to achieve significant reductions in poverty and hunger, improve health and health services, achieve gender equality, improve maternal health,
reduce child mortality, ensure environmental sustainability, and achieve a functional global partnership for development. No program will be fully sustainable until universal primary education is achieved. We must provide the opportunity for adults to learn to read and write.
They have been denied the joy of reading, and the joy and pride of signing their name, writing a letter, reading to their children, and helping them with their homework. There is no other accomplishment that can do more for raising self esteem and giving people a sense of achievement. Universal primary education.