DUBAI/MANAMA, 9 September — The UAE women are still being left behind in the race toward literacy and future plans are to upgrade adult education, according to a senior Ministry of Education and Youth official.
Although most college and university students in the country are females, it is surprising that illiteracy is high among females as compared to the males, Hamad Saif Al-Muhaire, acting director of adult education at the ministry, told the Gulf News daily.
"Today, the illiteracy rate has dropped to seven percent from 17 percent in 1995. The UAE is one of the Arab countries with the lowest illiteracy rates," he added.
There are 122 centers which cover all areas of the UAE, including remote areas. The number of students at the adult education centers is 27,666 among which 13,738 are female.
He added according to Vision 2020, there are many suggestions for the future of education in the country and the most important one is to evaluate and develop adult education.
"A committee was formed to evaluate the current adult education programs. This was necessary to find out the problems and try to overcome them. It will be initiated next year," Al-Muhaire said.
The illiteracy rate among females is more than males, because of their social condition.
"Some of them leave schools at an early age, or because their families refuse to provide them education. Things are changing, and illiteracy among females will decrease further," he added.
Bahrain winning battle
Meanwhile, Bahrain has almost succeeded in eradicating illiteracy, an Education Ministry official said.
Adult Education director Mariam Al-Doy said the illiteracy rate dropped from 6.4 percent in 1991 to 2.7 percent among people aged 10 to 44 years last year. "This is a very impressive drop," she remarked.
"We believe it is time to present uneducated people with further opportunities to benefit from an education system" that will help them to play an effective public role," Al-Doy told the Gulf Daily News on the occasion of International Literacy Day.
"Bahrain has all the advantages which enables it to achieve zero illiteracy. All we need is the understanding for the importance of learning."
Al-Doy stressed the urgent need to invest time and skills in increasing cultural awareness and making people more computer and technology literate.
"We have no problems with getting books and teachers nor with equipping education centers and providing transportation. The only problem we have is students who drop out from classes and do not continue their studies," she said.
She said the ministry has taken several steps to ensure that adult students complete their basic education.
