Nearly one in three in Arab world illiterate: report

[abdulhakeem]

January 07, 2008

TUNIS (AFP) — Nearly one in three people in the Arab world is illiterate, including nearly half of all women in the region, the Tunis-based Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation said Monday.

Three-quarters of the 100 million people unable to read or write in the 21 Arab countries are aged between 15 and 45 years old, the Arab League group, known by its acronym ALECSO, said in a statement.

Equally alarming, some 46.5 percent of women in the region are illiterate, the organisation reported, urging governments to put the fight against illiteracy at the top of their agendas.

While describing access to primary school education as "indispensable," it also urged Arab countries to focus on adult education to avoid "serious incidents in the evolution of (Arab) societies".

ALECSO has previously sounded the alarm on illiteracy in the region, noting it had failed to meet a 1990 United Nations goal to halve adult illiteracy over the subsequent decade.

In July, Arab states adopted an action plan spearheaded by the group to promote education, notably through collaboration with key international organisations.

While illiteracy affects the entire Arab world, the more highly populated countries -- such as Egypt, Sudan, Algeria and Morocco -- are particularly vulnerable.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g-5ONkZCOeHJz00UknMduzQGe8lA

[abdulhakeem]

Nearly 100 mln people illiterate in Arab world

TUNIS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of illiterate people in the Arab world has reached 99.5 million, accounting for 29.7 percent of the whole population, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) said Monday.

Among these, 75 million people are aged between 15 and 45, the Tunis-based ALECSO said in a statement.

The sharp increase of illiterate people will pose a severe threat to the social development of Arab nations, said the statement.

ALECSO called on Arab nations that have a high illiteracy rate to give priority to anti-illiteracy and adult education in their national development programs.

Arab countries should take effective measures and enact mandatory laws to make elementary education universal, the statement said.

Last November, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said in its annual report that Arabnations have an adult literacy rate of 62.7 percent, which is relatively low in the world.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/08/content_7383663.htm

[Mosaab Ibn Omer]

O Allah! That's horrible!:( ...:lailah:

[GothiKa]

Indeed, it is horrible.

[Le Croyant]

I don't think this the case in the Gulf states as public education is pretty much like in the western countries... free education till high school.

[dhakiyya]

Where did they get that statistic from :scratch: its crazy... in the Levant (Palestine syria Jordan Lebanon) there are high literacy levels and they are a highly educated population with good universities, even in Palestine despite the occupation they have still managed to do a good job of educating people, schools and universities carrying on despite serious problems. They've always educated girls and women too.

Egypt has good schools and universities, also educates women

In the gulf there have a very good provision for education, in Saudi they have state funded schools, they have separate schools and universities for men and women too. Not all the bedouin send their kids to school although most do, and yes girls too.

Iraq always had good provision for education - whatever problems they have now with being invaded wouldn't account for illiteracy in 15-45 yr olds.

So where are all these illiterate Arabs? Maybe they all live in the Maghreb countries maybe?? (it was a study done in tunis)??

Or perhaps they did the reading tests in the English alphabet lol .....!!

[dhakiyya]

interesting - just looked up on the New Internationalist website - they have info on stuff like this for the poorest countries in the world...

Yemen - majority of population is extremely poor

literacty rate = 46%, among women just 25%

None of the other Arab countries were listed. (which means they're too rich most likely)

guess it must be yemen thats skewing the statistics then....

[Saudi Prince]

I don't think this the case in the Gulf states as public education is pretty much like in the western countries... free education till high school.

Come on! You said you were Saudi (I doubt it by the way maybe you're not) so how can't you know that even universities in Saudi are free. In fact, students get paid every single month when they start their courses until they graduate (1000 S.R per month) for men and women!

[imported_MMS]

proof /\

[mizfissy815]

Come on! You said you were Saudi (I doubt it by the way maybe you're not) so how can't you know that even universities in Saudi are free. In fact, students get paid every single month when they start their courses until they graduate (1000 S.R per month) for men and women!

Last I checked out of those very few free universities there was only 1 that catered for women which opened not long ago....Queen E'ffat College with a limited number of courses.

Qatar also provides free education to university level for their citizens...and Kuwait has free schooling up to the age of 18 and it's compulsory.

As for the 'students get paid' bit...t'is true. Some foreign students get it as well...I think at KSU, foreign students get an allowance+ free housing+ a ticket to fly them in and a round trip ticket at the end of the year.
Oh, and there's always the Islamic competitions, Quran and Sunnah + other subjects, annual hajj trips, Umrah, just visiting the Holy cities...

[Saudi Prince]

Last I checked out of those very few free universities there was only 1 that catered for women which opened not long ago....Queen E'ffat College with a limited number of courses.
Qatar also provides free education to university level for their citizens...and Kuwait has free schooling up to the age of 18 and it's compulsory.

As for the 'students get paid' bit...t'is true. Some foreign students get it as well...I think at KSU, foreign students get an allowance+ free housing+ a ticket to fly them in and a round trip ticket at the end of the year.
Oh, and there's always the Islamic competitions, Quran and Sunnah + other subjects, annual hajj trips, Umrah, just visiting the Holy cities...

If you are talking about Saudi here then this is not true. Every single university welcomes women!

[mizfissy815]

If you are talking about Saudi here then this is not true. Every single university welcomes women!


Not all...Al-Yamamah College doesn't and of course, the Islamic uni in Madinah.But yes, there are a quite a few that do...but very few of them are 'free'. Actually, I think it's just Queen Effat's College that's free and for women only.

[dhakiyya]

If you are talking about Saudi here then this is not true. Every single university welcomes women!

Saudi Prince is right, there are loads of universities that women can go to. There's at least two in the town where I live that women can go to - one of them is exclusively for women, the other I don't know if they have men their too, but this family we're friends with, their eldest daughter goes there mashaAllah.

[Saudi Prince]

Not all...Al-Yamamah College doesn't and of course, the Islamic uni in Madinah.But yes, there are a quite a few that do...but very few of them are 'free'. Actually, I think it's just Queen Effat's College that's free and for women only.

You certainly have no idea about unis in Saudi then! All the universities have colleges for women! Yes, there is only 1 independent university that is staffed by women from A to Z BUT all other universityes have colleges in which girls can study as well! They are all free!

[dhakiyya]

You certainly have no idea about unis in Saudi then! All the universities have colleges for women! Yes, there is only 1 independent university that is staffed by women from A to Z BUT all other universityes have colleges in which girls can study as well! They are all free!

is there really just one? what town is it in? (cause I thought the one where I live is entirely staffed by women apart from a male security guard who sits inside the stairwell to make sure no men go in)

[mizfissy815]

You certainly have no idea about unis in Saudi then! All the universities have colleges for women! Yes, there is only 1 independent university that is staffed by women from A to Z BUT all other universityes have colleges in which girls can study as well! They are all free!

Goodness, I never said they don't! I know there's many, and I said that. But you can't say all...you know it's not true, we've already named a few.

From the top of my head, KSU, KAU, KHU-PM, Umm-alQura, Imaam Muhammed all cater for women but Al-Yamamah College, Islamic uni in Madinah don't.

Even those universities don't provide nearly the same number of subjects for women as they do men. KSU, the oldest in KSA doesn't provide Physics for example for girls.

[mizfissy815]

is there really just one? what town is it in? (cause I thought the one where I live is entirely staffed by women apart from a male security guard who sits inside the stairwell to make sure no men go in)

There are a few completely women ones, but most are private. Queen Effat's College in Jeddah.

[Le Croyant]

Come on! You said you were Saudi (I doubt it by the way maybe you're not) so how can't you know that even universities in Saudi are free. In fact, students get paid every single month when they start their courses until they graduate (1000 S.R per month) for men and women!

Firstly, I said Gulf countries not Saudi. Yes, Saudi does have free education & pay the students SR1000 (that's going to change, they r going have minimum GPA requirements soon). I got my undergraduate degree in US, on full scholarship from Saudi Board of Education. So education is pretty much provided for anyone who wants it.

But that's not the case in UAE or Bahrain or Jordan. I dunno how the rest of the Gulf countries are.

The most important of all, SP, we r talking abt literacy rate here, one doesn't need to got college for that. Anyone who can read & write is literate. For which basic primary school is enough.

And don't we have the infamous madrassa :coolbro: where all the muslim kids go to learn religion. They claim that on one side & then claim they r illiterate. Quite a contradiction.

[dhakiyya]

There are a few completely women ones, but most are private. Queen Effat's College in Jeddah.

Thanks :), i think the completely women only one in my town is private. I dont' live in Jeddah.

[Le Croyant]

You certainly have no idea about unis in Saudi then! All the universities have colleges for women! Yes, there is only 1 independent university that is staffed by women from A to Z BUT all other universityes have colleges in which girls can study as well! They are all free!

KFUPM has girl college? That's news for me. It's exclusively men only university.

[mizfissy815]

Thanks :), i think the completely women only one in my town is private. I dont' live in Jeddah.

No problem.

You're better off that way, trust me. lol.

[Le Croyant]

Thanks :), i think the completely women only one in my town is private. I dont' live in Jeddah.

Howz Hufof treating u? Did u goto Dubai, it's a short drive frm there.

[mizfissy815]

KFUPM has girl college? That's news for me. It's exclusively men only university.

Ma bad you're right...wrong uni...I meant KFU- King Faisal Uni.

So there's another one for you SP.

[Le Croyant]

My brother goes there & he never mentioned that when we were looking for colleges for my youngest sister.

Someone's going to a lecture frm my abu if this turns out to be true. It has been a long time since I have seen my bro get his ass whooped. Can't wait. HAHAHA. :hidban:

[Le Croyant]

Ma bad you're right...wrong uni.

So there's another one for you SP.

u have spoiled my plans for tonight...

[Saudi Prince]

is there really just one? what town is it in? (cause I thought the one where I live is entirely staffed by women apart from a male security guard who sits inside the stairwell to make sure no men go in)

When I said (1), I meant there is 1 as a completely independent university. But of course all the women colleges that belong to other universities and even the colleges that don't belong to a university are all separated from men but they are not independent in everything! They have to deal with the university that they beong to for finantial matters and other rules.

[dhakiyya]

Howz Hufof treating u? Did u goto Dubai, it's a short drive frm there.

I like living here mashaAllah :up: nice and peaceful, Islamic, good shops, lovely lovely people mashaAllah.

not been to dubai yet........ we've only had one trip to al khobar so far!

[mizfissy815]

u have spoiled my plans for tonight...
lol...my bad.
I was thinking of King Faisal Uni...KFU.

[dhakiyya]

When I said (1), I meant there is 1 as a completely independent university. But of course all the women colleges that belong to other universities and even the colleges that don't belong to a university are all separated from men but they are not independent in everything! They have to deal with the university that they beong to for finantial matters and other rules.

okay, I get it, thanks :up:

[afsalim]

Awful....

[Saudi Prince]

Not all...Al-Yamamah College doesn't and of course, the Islamic uni in Madinah.But yes, there are a quite a few that do...but very few of them are 'free'. Actually, I think it's just Queen Effat's College that's free and for women only.

Maybe you're right not all of them but MOST of them do! In fact it is just 2 that don't do! but it is not fair of you to say
"Last I checked out of those very few free universities there was only 1 that catered for women which opened not long ago....Queen E'ffat College with a limited number of courses."

[Le Croyant]

So which Arab countries r included in this report?

How r the Morocco, Tunisia, Syria & Lebanon when it comes to this aspect?

Don't ppl know how to read Quran in these countries?

[dhakiyya]

well see my earlier post on this thread, they probably included Yemen. I looked up all the Arab countries in New Internationalist cause they have data on literacy, but the only one they had was Yemen so I assume that the others are not poor enough countries to be included? Yemen literacy rates are 48% and only 25% among women. According to NI. I don't know how they collect their data on the countries though.

[mizfissy815]

Maybe you're right not all of them but MOST of them do! In fact it is just 2 that don't do! but it is not fair of you to say


Alright, I admit the wording wasn't good...

[Le Croyant]

well see my earlier post on this thread, they probably included Yemen. I looked up all the Arab countries in New Internationalist cause they have data on literacy, but the only one they had was Yemen so I assume that the others are not poor enough countries to be included? Yemen literacy rates are 48% and only 25% among women. According to NI. I don't know how they collect their data on the countries though.

How much can Yemen really skew the results?

[mizfissy815]

From the UN Development Program Report 2005-

Palestine- 91.9%
Jordan- 91.7%
Qatar- 89.2%
Bahrain- 87.7%
Lebanon- 86.5%
Kuwait- 82.9%
Syria- 82.9%
Libya- 81.7%
Saudi Arabia- 79.4%
UAE- 77.3%
Oman- 74.4%
Tunisia- 74.3%
Algeria- 69.8%
Djibouti- 65.5%
Morocco- 61.6%
Sudan- 59.0%
Comoros- 56.2%
Egypt- 55.6%
Mauritania- 51.2%
Yemen- 49.0 %

Iraq and Somalia are both missing for obvious reasons...

The average literacy rate using these figures is about 69.25%, which leaves about 30.75% as illiterate. A good assumption would be that Somalia would probably be in the bottom half and Iraq towards the top..the 1 in 3 claim isn't all that off.

[Le Croyant]

So these ppl can' read or write anything?

I can't speak for other countries but in Saudi not only they have free public education but also free Islamic lessons too.

Whr r these illiterate kids? middle of the desert?

[mizfissy815]

So these ppl can' read or write anything?

I can't speak for other countries but in Saudi not only they have free public education but also free Islamic lessons too.

Whr r these illiterate kids? middle of the desert?

That's a good point. What's their definition of literate?

[dhakiyya]

How much can Yemen really skew the results?

it depends on how big their population is compared with the other countries. The bigger the country's population, and the further their percentage is from the rest, the more it will skew the average.

but anyway I see MizzFizzy's posted some stats for the whole region. And I see Yemen is at the bottom, but some are not far in front of them.

And to put it in context - where I used to work (as a teacher) in the UK - a town in the South East of England - had a literacy rate of 87% (one of the lowest in the UK I believe)

[dhakiyya]

So these ppl can' read or write anything?

I can't speak for other countries but in Saudi not only they have free public education but also free Islamic lessons too.

Whr r these illiterate kids? middle of the desert?

I don't think the definition of illiterate for these stats means completely illiterate - I think its a matter of having sufficient reading skills for them to be useful in everyday life - someone might be able to read a bit but if they can't read and understand basic information on signs, notices and so on I think they count as illiterate.

[dhakiyya]

So these ppl can' read or write anything?

I can't speak for other countries but in Saudi not only they have free public education but also free Islamic lessons too.

Whr r these illiterate kids? middle of the desert?

I know some beduin in Saudi don't send their kids to school but the person who told me that said it was very very few - as you say the schools are free and people generally want their kids to learn

Also, when it comes to Saudi - how much of the stats come from the native population? Saudi has a huge foreign workforce, a lot of those from poor countries who can earn far more working in Saudi than at home. Someone told me for example that a lot of maids are illiterate. Are they included in these stats?

[dhakiyya]

I don't think the definition of illiterate for these stats means completely illiterate - I think its a matter of having sufficient reading skills for them to be useful in everyday life - someone might be able to read a bit but if they can't read and understand basic information on signs, notices and so on I think they count as illiterate.

I think a reading age below eight counts as functionally illiterate. (i.e. Sun readers barely qualify as literate - the Sun has a reading age of eight, so if you can't read that then you're functionally illiterate)

Perhaps someone who works or has worked as a special needs teacher or educational psycologist could clarify if I'm correct or not.

Also I still don't know if this defenition is what determines literacy for the stats quoted.

[Le Croyant]

I know some beduin in Saudi don't send their kids to school but the person who told me that said it was very very few - as you say the schools are free and people generally want their kids to learn

Also, when it comes to Saudi - how much of the stats come from the native population? Saudi has a huge foreign workforce, a lot of those from poor countries who can earn far more working in Saudi than at home. Someone told me for example that a lot of maids are illiterate. Are they included in these stats?

I don't doubt that there r Saudis who r illiterate but 20%+ shocks me.

But I didn't think abt the maid/labor factor.

I know they r illiterate in Arabic but I vl find out if they can read/write in their native language.

[Saudi Prince]

I think a reading age below eight counts as functionally illiterate. (i.e. Sun readers barely qualify as literate - the Sun has a reading age of eight, so if you can't read that then you're functionally illiterate)

Perhaps someone who works or has worked as a special needs teacher or educational psycologist could clarify if I'm correct or not.

Also I still don't know if this defenition is what determines literacy for the stats quoted.

Just a qustion dhakiyya, you live in Hafouf and I believe that not many Saudis speak English so how do you comunicate with your neighbours, in the local shops,...etc? Or are you hiding in a Western Square or something? ;)

[dhakiyya]

Just a qustion dhakiyya, you live in Hafouf and I believe that not many Saudis speak English so how do you comunicate with your neighbours, in the local shops,...etc? Or are you hiding in a Western Square or something? ;)

ana atakallam 3arabi qaleelan alhamdulillah, there are a few people here that do speak English :up: my husband is very good at learning langauges mashaAllah. When we arrived I spoke more arabic than him, now its the other way around :S

There are no westerners here normally, although we occasionally see them in Giant stores but we don't speak to them cause they think we're Saudis cause I wear niqaab alhamdulillah.