Ministry targets 100pc literacy rate by 2011

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

COLOMBO: Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said moves are under way to achieve a 100 per cent literacy rate among Sri Lankans by 2011.

He said 50 years ago, the country's literacy rate stood at 50 per cent, while now it is 91.5 per cent. "We have now launched programmes whereby Sri Lanka will have a 100 per cent literacy rate by 2011."

He said the Education Ministry's Informal Unit has taken many steps to achieve this target among which is getting children who are not schooling into the school system and also imparting an informal education to elders who are illiterate.

This was revealed by the Minister at a seminar titled "Literacy Uplift Programme for Students and Elders" at the Ministry Auditorium.

A decision was also taken to issue a Student Record Book to every student from next year by the Education Ministry to replace the single sheet term end assessment report being issued in some schools.

"The Education Ministry will issue a well prepared printed record book for every student from 2008 since it is reported that some students had received typing sheets as their report books from schools," the Minister said. Senior DIG Sirisena Herath pointed out that 1,000 children of school going age are jailed every year.

Among them are 100 girls. It has been revealed that 70 per cent of people involved in crimes are illiterate.

"When a child is directed to school it is not only educate the child but also to indirectly bring down the crime rate," Herath said.

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Five and 14: school going age for children

COLOMBO: The Education Ministry has set the school-going age for children at between five and 14 years.

Parents and guardians are legally obliged to ensure children in the above age group attend school.