THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA WILL OBSERVE ALONG WITH THE OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ERADICATION OF ILLITERACY, WHICH FALLS ON FRIDAY, SEPT 8. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ADULTS EDUCATION AT THE EDUCATION MINISTRY DR MOHAMMED BIN SULEIMAN AL-MUHANNA SAID THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN EXERTING TIRELESS EFFORTS FOR ERADICATING ILLITERACY. HE NOTED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ILLITERACY ERADICATION, FIXED BY THE UNESCO TO BE OBSERVED ON SEPT 8 EVERY YEAR, PROVIDES A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL EXPERTISE AND TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF COMBATING ILLITERACY. IN A STATEMENT TO SPA, DR AL-MUHANNA SAID THE RATE OF ILLITERACY IN THE KINGDOM DROPPED FROM 60 PERCENT IN 1392 TO ONLY 7.47 IN 1425 AMONG THE MALES AND 22.86 AMONG THE FEMALES. 'DESPITE THE REDUCTION OF THE RATE OF ILLITERACY IN THE KINGDOM, YET EFFORTS ARE UNDER TO MAKE THE COUNTRY FREE FROM ILLITERACY, HE SAID. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE KINGDOM HAD PARTICIPATED IN SO MANY REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES ON ADULTS EDUCATION. 'IN RECOGNITION OF THE KINGDOM'S EFFORTS IN FIGHTING ILLITERACY, IT HAS BEEN AWARDED FIVE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRIZES', HE ADDED.
