Population Growth vs. Literacy
One in every four Egyptians is illiterate. Despite free education and long- running literacy programs, the number of illiterates has changed little in over two decades. Nearly 17 million adult Egyptians can neither read nor write, according to recent government data.
Egypt’s population of 80 million is growing at 1.76 percent a year. The strongest growth is among the rural poor.
Despite free, mandatory education for children ages 6 to 15, parents in poor communities often remove their kids from the education system to help work at home or in the fields.
The dropout rate is highest among girls.
Women account for 69 percent of illiterates in Egypt.
Excerpted from an article by Cam McGrath for IPS
Possibly Related Classroom Projects From
DonorsChoose.org
Powered by Social Actions
