(International Literacy Day special)
Women, literacy and Development
- By Kamala
Sarup
 |
Photo Source paradesh.com |
On 8 September, every
year, we celebrate
International Literacy Day. The theme this year is ‘Literacy and
Sustainable Development.’
According to recent estimates, there are approximately 862 million
illiterate people in the
world. More than 100 million children lack access to education. Nearly two-thirds of whom are
girls.
Literacy means the ability
to read and write. More schools
and better
language teachers for more
women and children will increase the
literacy rate (percentage of people in a total population who
are
literate). Literacy depends also on the wealth of a country. A
country that is rich can afford more and better schools and pay
the
teachers well. It is hard to imagine a functioning
country
without literate
people. If the citizens cannot
read and write, how
can they learn
anything about development and peace?
Technology and science
depend on literate people. We
can't
provide instructions to
build and operate machines and computers
and
disseminate scientific knowledge
without literacy.
Literacy is key to social
and economic development of a country.
Access to literacy is a basic step towards achieving the general
well
being of women. Literacy is key to sustainable
development. Literacy is hence
considered as a major tool in building a developed and peaceful society in
the 21st Century.
Women play a key role in
the creation of sustainable
development. Sustainable development of women through their
full
participation in education,
employment and political and social life
is vital for every nation. In Nepal we will have to develop and
apply
appropriate intervention
strategies to meet the diverse needs of
young
women. The ongoing conflict
has undoubtedly had negative impact on women's development. If teacher are
not safe at schools while teaching
their pupils, or if students are afraid, there can't be "business
as
usual" in terms of educating millions
of women and children in
Nepal.
On the other hand, to make
sustainable development a reality, women must act differently. Sustainable
development of
women is important but it
requires peace. Sustainable development
with
peace means respect for the
land, women and tolerance. As we know,
terrorism and poverty remain pressing problems for rural
women.
Socially, there is poverty,
displacement and insecurity, psychological
effects include depression and
disorders.
It is true, women's values
and priorities bring a perspective that is
valuable to both process and outcome. But because of the violence
and
terrorism our education system is on
the verge of collapse depriving a whole generation of young women of an
opportunity to learn to read and write. A major Maoist target has been the school system: keeping
it closed. Hundreds of schools
remain closed due to the war.
Right to literacy is
universal. We must eradicate
illiteracy. Every Nepali child and woman should have a chance
to
live in an independent country.
National pride is as acceptable as
we are proud of our own children and grand children when they achieve
significant progress any field of their
choice.
(Sarup is a Ph. D. scholar based in the US. Please post your comments to kamalasarup@gmail.com or feedback@mos.com.np)
(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to editors@mos.com.np and your comments/suggestions to feedback@mos.com.np)
