“Give me an educated mother, I will give you an educated nation”
— Napoleon Bonaparte
This is one of the famous sayings of the famous French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. He is remembered in history as a shrewd, sharp-witted, and patriotic general. This is the message the Hon’ble Commander conveyed to his nation: that education is an important part of country and nation-building and that it is important for mothers and everyone to be educated.
UNESCO first observed International Literacy Day on 8th September 1967 based on the fact that literacy is important for upholding basic human rights and the dignity of an individual and developing a self-reliant human being. After that, this day is celebrated every year and is of importance in all countries. In the case of Bangladesh, this day was observed for the first time in 1972 after independence. This year, the main theme of the day focuses on the promotion of multilingual education and peace. As every time International Literacy Day 2024 is also celebrated in Bangladesh with due importance, programs are organized.
According to last year’s data from BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics), currently more than 23% of the total population of the country is still illiterate. Also, the rate of practical literacy (those who can read, write, understand, and calculate) is even lower. According to the latest survey published in 2023, the functional literacy rate of the country is currently 73.95%.
Besides, after the Corona pandemic was organized in 2020, a large number of students could not return to class benches and reading tables. They enter the workforce before completing formal education and some migrate abroad to support their families. It is rooted in family dysfunction, poverty, and inadequate opportunities to achieve formal education. Being denied the opportunity to acquire various skills. In addition, about 14 percent of the primary enrolled students drop out before completing primary education. In secondary school, this rate increased to 36 percent. A large number of people are getting out of education due to financial instability of the family, poverty, child labor, unemployment, bribery and corruption in employment, inadequacy and uncertainty of jobs, etc. Education is a luxury for this large population.
Also, some of the reasons for girls dropping out at the secondary level are child marriage, superstition, social insecurity, and family conservatism. In addition, one of the reasons for leaving education among boys at the secondary level is family financial instability, drugs, inattention to studies, and bad company of friends. Due to this a large number of people are deprived of education and fall behind.
Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics – 2023 published a report that was prepared by surveying 3 lakh 8 thousand 32 households. The report shows that the dropout rate of students aged 5 to 24 in 2019 was only 3.10 percent. But in 2023, that rate reached 9.36 percent. That is, it is seen that the dropout rate of students has increased 3 times in just four years. A large number of people feel that getting an education is nothing more than a financial waste. At the end of the day, they think that it is better to earn money to support their families, which is an ominous sign for a nation.
Therefore, highlighting the importance of International Literacy Day in the current education situation of the country is the demand of time. It’s a basic human right. A lack of education can cripple a nation. Programme-based activities should be undertaken around the day. The education policy should be formulated, and the education law should be implemented with due emphasis on the observance of this day.
Respecting this day, arrangements should be made to provide necessary financial assistance to the backward communities. It is the need of the hour to nationalize the day, keeping in mind the motto “Education is the backbone of the nation”.
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Writer
OSHIN BINTE JAMAL
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE