Illiteracy in Arab world growing: Report

Illiteracy in Arab world growing: Report Shadiah Abdullah I Arab News

DUBAI: A report on knowledge, released at the Arab Strategy Forum on Wednesday, warned of large-scale illiteracy in the Arab world. Despite the fact that the region had spent five percent of its gross domestic product and 20 percent of its national budget on education one third of its adult population, (60 million people), remain illiterate -- two thirds of them women. According to the report this situation will worsen in the future because 9 million children of primary school age are out of school. The report sought urgent action to remedy the problem. The report highlighted the many obstacles to development focusing mainly on the fact that knowledge doesn't reach all levels of society, in particular the disadvantaged groups. At the same time education at university level is not necessarily on par with advanced nations which is one of the main obstacles as it creates a critical mass of highly-skilled human capital capable of innovation, creativity and renewal, and essential to development. Titled "Arab Knowledge Report 2009: Towards Productive Intercommunication for Knowledge," the report is the outcome of a collaborative endeavor between the Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Foundation and the United Nations Development Program's (UNDP) regional bureau for Arab states. It is also the first of a series of reports that aim to throw light on the status of knowledge in the Arab region. The two-day forum aims to draw upon the perspectives of leading researchers and intellectuals for enhancing the region's knowledge landscape. The report also provided a number of positive indicators regarding the position of the Arabic language and its rates of growth on the Internet. The acceleration of Internet use is a welcome sign and will play a role in boosting Arab knowledge performance. Dr. Sulaiman Al-Hattlan, CEO of Arab Strategy Forum, said: "The launch of the Arab Knowledge Report highlights the intense analysis and identification of opportunities and risks inherent in the acquisition, production, creation, and deployment of knowledge; emphasizing the organic relationship of progress, freedom and knowledge." The first day sessions at the seminar focused on institutional infrastructure, social culture and values in the Arab world in the context of the establishment of a knowledge-based society. The special address "Tangible Innovation" by John P. Keegan, chairman and president, Charles Edison Fund -- Edison Innovation Foundation, US, highlighted the importance of encouraging innovation at all levels of the society. A second plenary session discussed the foundation and mechanism of action for building a knowledge-based society in the Arab region. The event also outlined topics such as "Knowledge gaps and the enabling environments for creating a knowledge-based society in the Arab world," and "Education and formation of knowledge capital."