DUSHANBE, September 7, 2008, Asia-Plus – The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) called upon the Islamic world to adopt effective measures to combat illiteracy through non-conventional national policies wherein large scale literacy programs should come at the forefront of the tasks and responsibilities which involve all living forces, from governmental institutions to local community associations, professional organizations, trade unions, cultural, artistic and media institutions as well as the various sectors of society, press release issued by ISECO said.
These measures should be part of an all-out campaign to be launched according to a definite schedule targeting all age groups within society. In a communiqué issued on the occasion of the World Literacy Day which is celebrated on September 8, ISESCO pointed out that literacy should be a regular and high priority item in the national policies of every country in the Islamic world. Accordingly, financial resources should be earmarked from the public budget, donations by individuals and institutions, Zakat and waqfs resources, revenues of sports events and artistic performances in order to fund literacy programs according to a central plan which is subject to the control of the government, the parliament and local councils.
In its communiqué, ISESCO warned against making of anti-illiteracy action an occasional activity or a minor routine program. It stressed the need to deploy all the necessary efforts and means and rally people of all walks of life to push forward the effort being made to eradicate illiteracy into their farthest reaches possible, in such a way as to wage competition between cities, towns and regions as to the elimination of illiteracy within their territory.
In addition, the Islamic Organization announced its plan to establish new prizes intended for the cities of the Member States which manage to eradicate illiteracy, while developing the annual prizes awarded to the leading NGO’s specialized in anti-illiteracy action. On the other hand, it invited the Member States to pay due attention to the promotion of the efforts geared to boosting literacy programs and to provide good incentives to people working in this field, as well as to those who manage to overcome their illiteracy and to institutions devoting exceptional efforts to this end.
ISESCO affirmed that anti-illiteracy action in the Islamic world is a religious obligation, an economic necessity and a political responsibility of all which should not rest with governments alone. On the same occasion, it urged the Member States to increase the resources allocated to literacy programs and to give further attention to this cause, pointing out to the alarming illiteracy rates in the Islamic world due to the growing scope of this phenomenon which undermines the efforts devoted to comprehensive sustainable development.
By the same token, ISESCO reiterated its commitment to go ahead with the implementation of its literacy programs under the current three-year Action Plan as it is the organ in charge of boosting literacy plans and enhancing the capacities of the Member States in this vitally important field within the joint Islamic action system.
