BD's literacy rate now 78pc, says Boby Hajjaj

The literacy rate in Bangladesh now stands at 77.9 per cent, Primary and Mass Education State Minister Bobby Hajjaj said while presenting various related data and government initiatives at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Monday.

He was briefing the media about his ministry’s preparation to observe the International Literacy Day in Bangladesh on Tuesday. In line with the international theme, Bangladesh has set the theme for the day as: ‘Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity.’

He said the ‘Functional Literacy and Practical Skills Training (Pre-Vocational Level)’ programme is currently being implemented in the sadar upazilas of 58 districts across the country.

In the first phase, a total of 4,440 school dropouts aged between 15 and 24 have been brought under the training programme, with participants selected from each district. Each course provides 460 hours of training, including 100 hours of functional literacy and 360 hours of skills training.

The state minister said one of the key features of the programme is that it creates opportunities for participants to transition from education to employment.

Of the 4,312 students registered under the special programme, 4,198 have already graduated as skilled trainees. Of them, 3,882 have been connected with some form of employment, while 603 have entered direct employment.

The state minister said the government’s future plans include initiatives to further expand the scope of non-formal education.