Book Description

The 2006 EFA Global Monitoring Report, maps the global literacy challenge, drawing attention to new methods for measuring it more accurately. It analyses how societies have attained widespread literacy before critically examining national strategies and international commitments aimed at achieving this goal. Although adult literacy rates doubled in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arab States and South and West Asia from 1970 to 2000, the rate of progress has slowed considerably since 1990, according to the report. If present trends continue, only 86% of the world's adults will be literate by 2015, up from 82% today.Reflecting deep-seated gender inequalities in many societies, women account for 64% of the adults worldwide who cannot read or write with understanding. This figure remains virtually unchanged from 63% in 1990. Every year, the EFA Global Monitoring Report assesses where the world stands on its commitment to provide a basic education to all children, youth and adults by 2015. Its developed by an independent team and published by UNESCO, with the UIS as a key member of the EFA monitoring team, providing statistical annexes and analysis which lay the foundations for the report.