Geographical Disparities

Rural residents have lower literacy levels than urban residents, whether measured from census data (e.g. Wagner, 2000) or from household data. The disparities between urban and rural populations tend to be greater in those poorer countries in which overall literacy rates are comparatively low. In large measure, the influence of urbanization on literacy acquisition and retention reflects differences in access to formal schooling, higher-quality education and non-formal education programmes. Urban residents, in contrast to rural residents, tend also to reside in more literate environment, which are more demanding of literacy skills in written languages, and which offer greater rewards to those who possess them. Regional or provincial differences in literacy are particularly prevalent in countries with large illiterate populations.

Limited Resources

Many poor countries are cutting their public spending on social services such as education as these countries are already burdened by foreign debt.

War

War and civil strike disturb the education. Schools are destroyed and children are often needed in the war effort.

During the 1990s the problem of illiteracy was quite acute in the four States of the Hindi heartland - Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh - which have the derisive adjective of Bimaru. But, the statistics provided by the Census of India 2001 show that the rate of improvement has been faster in each of these States than in India as a whole. In 1991. the gender gap in Rajasthan increased in 24 of the 27 districts but in 200 1 it increased only in 13 of the 32 districts. In 19 districts the gap decreased. While the increase is nominal, the decrease is substantial. The highest decrease was recorded in Jhunjhunu, followed by Sikar. Whereas the highest increase was in Jalore, followed by Bhilwara. Interestingly, there is no positive correlation between high literacy and low gender gap. Although the situation that prevailed in 1991 has changed and some of the high-literacy districts now have a lower gender gap, the overall position is not positive. This may be a temporary phase. A stage has been reached where overall literacy cannot increase without a significant increase in female literacy. The emphasis therefore has to shift to women's education.

 

References

Intermediate school kit on the United Nations.

(2012). The Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy: A snapshot of illiteracy and its causes . Interim Report from the World Literacy Foundation.

UNESCO. (2011). The hidden crisis: armed conflict and education. UNESCO Publishing.