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Published on September 9, 2007

The facts came from a written statement by Koishiro Matsuura, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, that was read at an event held yesterday to observe International Literacy Day, celebrated globally on September 8.

The activities, also marking Thai Non-formal Education Day, continue today at Bangkok's Suan Amporn.

Matsuura said in the statement that, despite four decades of attempts, the goal of people's literacy remained dim, thus this year, halfway into the UN Literacy Decade 2003-2012, was appropriate for conducting the challenge assessment together.

Two out of three illiterates worldwide are women, while 72.1 million children have no access to schooling and many have to drop out, he said.

Sombat Suwanpitak, director of the Office of the Non-formal Education Commission, said 96 per cent of Thais were literate and only 4 per cent were not, mostly from hilltribe and other minority groups.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an, presiding over the event, read a statement from Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont urging Thais to realise the importance of literacy and lifelong learning.

Surayud said such qualities were necessary to cope with the changing world, and the government would do more to promote educational opportunities for those who remained illiterate.