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Literacy is generally defined as the ability to read, write and comprehend the meanings of written words and signs that are expressed in any language. Papua New Guinea’s literacy rate now stands at 56%. This means that around 56% of the country’s total population can read, write and understand basic things in either their own languages or in any of the country’s common languages as English, Motu and Tokpisin. The figure is derived from the 2000 National Census data. A new National % will be available early 2012.
With 800 plus languages, Papua New Guinea is multi-lingual than it is bilingual; the complex geographical features affect personal progress and development. A contributing factor in the growth of unbelieving slow literacy rate of 1% per year. Papua New Guinea’s literacy growth rate is 1% per year compared with our population growth rate of 3% annually. PNG must address this issue seriously as it is now a national development dilemma that it is a social setback. Political will and adequate funding from the government to support institutional strengthening of the National Literacy and Awareness Secretariat (NLAS), the coordinating agency, to boost the morale of literacy stakeholders and effective collaboration is paramount.
PNG’s literacy situation in dire state
- Average illiterate rate is 43.8% (2000 Census)
- More recent figures have it as 45.1%
- 2007 Literacy Survey – 36% of primary school graduates unable to read and write
- Commitment to ensure literacy population reflected in many key policy documents;
This scenario is sadly becoming inevitable for PNG with a high rate of dropouts from formal education institutions every year. Literacy has now shifted from becoming a social issue to a developmental issue.
Unless the government increases the funding for Language and Literacy development as illiteracy is a developmental obstacle, all government priorities would be difficult to implement with half of the population being print-illiterate. Issues such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Diarrhea etc, with landowner conflicts will be rising annually. Illiteracy is a direct contributing factor of all the above issues highlighted because acquiring literacy skills enables people to be more aware of issues and participate meaningfully as they become functionally literate.
Papua New Guinea Education and Advocacy Network (PEAN), a partner organization advocating for literacy in Papua New Guinea says that; the country’s literacy rate of 56% does not represent the true picture of PNG. It believes that country’s literacy rate may be much lower than projected. Methodology used by the National Census to arrive at the 56% mark is flawed. During the 2000 census, the NSO used a proxy method in which only the head of the households were interviewed on behalf of a family and the answers were “yes” or “no”. The questions are based on self-declaration rather than an independent assessment.
While the country is still trying to achieve Universal Primary Education by the United Nation’s target year 2015, it is equally important for the country to aim for functional literacy.
The National Literacy and Awareness Secretariat under UNESCO’s capEFA project with the assistance of NSO have conducted literacy survey in the Eastern Highlands Province and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The questionnaires used were based on self-declaration of their literacy status and an independent self-assessment was done to test their literacy skills. The outcome of the survey is yet to be release by NSO.
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