Global Arab Network | ISESCO calls for joining efforts to ensure success of alphabetical and digital literacy programmes

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ISESCO calls for joining efforts to ensure success of alphabetical and digital literacy programmes

Global Arab Network - - Hannan Taha

Monday, 07 September 2009 15:54

Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), addressed a message to the Muslim world whereby he called for adopting new and developed policies in the field of literacy based on joining efforts among governments, the private sector, and local community organizations and associations, and in coordination with the competent regional and international organizations. He also said that the literacy plans and programmes adopted by Muslim countries have not sufficiently achieved the desired goals of eradicating illiteracy from all Muslim societies. He, furthermore, highlighted the need to review those plans and programmes in light of the successful experiences of a number of Asian and South-American developing countries so as to curb, if not to eradicate, illiteracy.

In his message to the Muslim world on the International Literacy Day (8 September), ISESCO Director General underlined the need to include literacy programmes among the priorities of every Muslim country’s national policies. In this way, literacy would be a top-priority and fixed item on the government agenda to which are allocated financial resources generated from the State budget, donations by individuals and institutions, zakat, waqf (endowments), revenues of sport competitions, concerts, cultural activities, commercial fairs and other funding sources for literacy programmes. He added that all this should be guided by a central plan placed under the control of the government, the competent committees in parliaments and the local councils.

Moreover, ISESCO Director General cautioned against making literacy in the Muslim world a seasonal activity, secondary programme, transient mission or a festive work. Besides, he emphasized the need to use all means and resources towards achieving this strategic goal, and mobilize all social categories to promote the efforts exerted in that field, in such a way that cities, villages and regions would compete to announce their full emancipation from illiteracy. He also said that ISESCO would dedicate prizes for the cities, villages and regions that would announce the eradication of illiteracy.

In his message, Dr Altwaijri also said that fighting illiteracy in the Muslim world was a religious duty, economic necessity and an ethical and political responsibility that should be shared by everybody. He also called upon all Member States (50 Member States) to quickly increase the resources dedicated to literacy programmes and to direct further attention devoted to that matter. He furthermore pointed out that the present rates of illiteracy in the Muslim world constitute an alarming situation, especially that the efforts deployed in the field of sustainable and comprehensive development will lose momentum and profitability, should illiteracy continue to spread.

Moreover, ISESCO Director General stated that the Organization will pursue the implementation of its literacy programmes under its three-year action plan (2010-2012), which was adopted by ISESCO’s 10th General Conference, since it is the body which is fully competent within the joint Islamic action system in terms of educational areas, to contribute to stepping up Member States’ literacy efforts and strengthening Member States' capacities in that vital domain.

ISESCO Director General ended his message by saying: “alphabetical and digital illiteracy is a subject of paramount importance and should be regarded as one of the crucial issues to which the attention of everybody should be awarded”.

Global Arab Network

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