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Understanding and Addressing Global Literacy
Understanding and Addressing Global Literacy
From a historical perspective, literacy levels for the world population have risen drastically in the last couple of centuries. While only 12% of the people in the world could read and write in 1820, today the share has reversed: only 14% of the world population, in 2016, remained illiterate. Over the last 65 years the global literacy rate increased by 4% every 5 years – from 42% in 1960 to 86% in 2015. Despite large improvements in the expansion of basic education, and the continuous reduction of education inequalities, there are substantial challenges ahead. The poorest countries in the world, where basic education is most likely to be a binding constraint for development, still have very large segments of the population who are illiterate.
Highest youth literacy rates in the Asia Pacific region in 2018, by country
Highest youth literacy rates in the Asia Pacific region in 2018, by country
Singapore proved to be the most literate country across the Asia pacific region in 2018. The country demonstrated a youth literacy rate of 99.93 percent, beating the likes of China and Brunei to the top spot. Singapore has exhibited a constant increase of its literacy rate throughout recent years. An indicator which can be seen to affect the literacy rate is the governmental effort in investing in education. The amount of funds invested into the education sector is a factor which can determine a country’s state of education, as the amount of money being spent on education would have an impact on resources, learning environment, and teaching quality. Singapore’s student-teacher ratio in primary education is significantly lower than that of South Asian countries. For instance, Nepal had 21.5 students for every teacher in 2017. Meanwhile, Singaporean teachers only had around 15.2 students on average. Notably, South Asia, together with sub-Saharan Africa, had a much higher illiteracy rate compared to the East Asian and Pacific region in 2018. The literacy rate indicates the percentage of people within a population who can read and write. This enables them to identify, understand and interpret materials with various contexts. Ensuring literacy for all pupils is a part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for quality education. This in turn stimulates economic and societal growth for the future.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/586988/asian-countries-with-the-highest-youth-literacy-rates/
Asia Foundation
Asia Foundation
is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region addresses five overarching goals—strengthen governance, empower women, expand economic opportunity, increase environmental resilience, and promote international cooperation. Headquartered in San Francisco, The Asia Foundation works through a network of offices in 18 Asian countries and in Washington, DC. Working with public and private partners, the Foundation receives funding from a diverse group of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. In 2019, we provided $84.9 million in direct program support and distributed textbooks and other educational materials valued at $7.3 million.
Dharma Foundation
Dharma Foundation
is a non-profit (“for-purpose”) organization focused on providing quality education to underprivileged children so that they can secure their future, realize their dreams, and live a happy & healthy life. At Dharma, we firmly believe that it is our duty towards humanity to help prosper the impoverish. And Education is one means to do that. One day, we at Dharma hope to directly connect sponsors with the children in need. This will provide the sponsors with greater transparency so they can feel the effectiveness of their contributions to a child’s future.
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