Slow literacy rate in South and West Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa

UNESCO in its recently published midterm review report has stated that the literacy rate is comparatively slower in South Asia, West Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The midterm report refers to the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003–2012. The report expects the world literacy rate to rise up to 87 percent by 2015. This rate will still remain behind the "Educational for All" target to be met by 2015.

Protracted internal conflicts prevail in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and West Asia. Nevertheless, the UNESCO has not referred to them as the chief barrier to the literacy campaign. It states in its report that slow economic growth and inadequate funding in the educational sector are the main reasons behind the retarded rate.

However, what is transparent is that corruption, ill-governance and nonpublic-spirited politics in the developing countries have always ignored the majority concerns.

Global thinkers often ignore this fact and stress on privatization and commercialization of public policies.