UAE illiteracy rate drops to below 1 per cent

The report was carried out by the Ministry of Education and coincides with Unesco praising the UAE’s efforts to achieve the six “Education for All” objectives.

The illiteracy rate in the UAE has dropped to less than 1 per cent, a report shows.

The study was carried out by the Ministry of Education and other relevant bodies, reported Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National.

The report coincides with Unesco praising the UAE’s efforts to achieve the six “Education for All” objectives that were approved at the Dakar Conference in 2000.

The objectives must be met by every country in the world by 2015.

They include the expansion and improvement of education since early childhood, providing all children access to quality primary education, ensuring the provision of education requirements for children and adults through proper learning channels, acquiring necessary life skills, reducing illiteracy among adults and achieving equal basic education opportunities and continued education for adults.

Speaking at a ceremony for the National and Arab Literacy Day, the Minister of Education, Humaid Al Qattami, said the UAE’s low illiteracy rate and success in adult education could be attributed to the care and attention granted to the education sector.

He also praised the patronage of the President, Sheikh Khalifa, and of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and thanked the members of the Supreme Federal Council and the rulers of the other emirates.