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Research done globally reveal that literacy rate and GDP growth has a strong correlation. Whilst Sri Lanka enjoys a literary rate of 92.6% as a country, the problem is that pockets geographically are at a low ebb says the Rotary Sri Lanka and Maldives Governor Dushan Soza.
Way back in 1995, the literary rate of Sri Lanka was at 90.2% and by 2010 it was at 91.2% but even though the country’s economy expanded almost by three times post the cessation of hostilities unto the end of 2018, we see that the overall literary rate has marginally grown to 92.6% which means that more work is required to up the number, said Soza. The lagging area as per government data is Matale – 88.3%, Nuwara Eliya – 82.6% and Badulla at 85.2%, he said.
The Rotary Club of Colombo in a landmark project focusing on the Nuwara Eliya District based on the above data – in the Maskeliya geographical area, dedicated a mobile bus library as a pilot project to Glenugie Tamil Vidyalayam and its students and teachers. The club has been working with the school for many years on skill development and this was one of the latest initiatives launched. The children sit in the bus and are read to by the teachers. The students graduate with knowledge in English and vocational skills which enable them to present for entry into the corporate sector, said the team leader for the project Mohammed Abidally from the Rotary Club of Colombo.
“Whilst Sri Lanka can be critical with the numbers on literacy, we are way ahead of other South Asian countries like India at 71.2%, Pakistan – 57.9% and Bangladesh – 72.8% but I guess more insight is required how the above countries are registering a 6-7% GDP growth whilst Sri Lanka, with a commanding 92.6% literary rate, delivering a 3-3.5% GDP growth,” voiced Rotary PR Chairman Dr Rohantha Athukorala.
Incidentally, whilst the overall literacy level is being tracked in Sri Lanka, the digital literacy rate is marginally higher in number as revealed according to research. This definition means higher accessibility to smart phones, tablets, PCs which is very interesting, said Governor Soza.
This would facilitate a higher connectivity to the knowledge economy. Rotary fosters literacy as almost 14% of the world’s adult population is functionally illiterate. Rotary globally works in opening schools, promote proven teaching methods and establish mentoring programs to improve reading skills. One of them was the pilot project at Glenugie Tamil Vidyalayam, said Senior Rotarian Mohamed Abidally.
“We must make the total geography of Sri Lanka reach a literacy above 95% given the free education policy of the state,” commented Soza.
