Ugandans most illiterate

Apr 21, 2002

The UNDP Human Development Report 2000, places Uganda at the bottom of East Africa with a literacy rate of 65.0%, while Tanzania has 73.6%, and Kenya on top with 80.5%.

The UNDP Human Development Report 2000, places Uganda at the bottom of East Africa with a literacy rate of 65.0%, while Tanzania has 73.6%, and Kenya on top with 80.5%.The Dakar Frame work for Action, Goal 4 international literacy target is:“Achieving 50% improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015 especially for women, and equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults.”At 54.2% women literacy rate, Uganda, again, compares unfavourably with Kenya at 73.5%.Within Uganda, glaring disparities exist between regions and districts. Northern Uganda at 47% lags behind central region 77%. The literacy level has actually fallen in northern Uganda. This is revealed by the National household Census 2000. If you think, the situation is not so grave, here is yet another statistic: In Moroto and Kotido district, adult literacy rate for women, by 1991, was as low as 6%.Illiteracy has a negative impact on the poverty eradication measures. Therefore, illiteracy as a dimension of inequality, exclusion and poverty, needs to be tackled in its own right.The government of Uganda is positively investing in adult literacy by allocating a reasonable amount of money. Sh3.5bn has been budgeted for during the 2002-03 financial year. All this is commendable. The Uganda government is way ahead of others in Africa in funding basic education. But there are issues to address in efficiency and capacity and strategic utilisation of the now available resources. There is one area where the government is behind the rest of Africa-that is how to work with civil society. ENDS

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