The country's rate of literacy registered an Increase of 4 per cent In last two years as a result of the government's pragmatic policies, the Prime Minister said yesterday, reports UNB.

Begum Khaleda Zia, speaking at a function on the occasion of the Internationa) Literacy Day, said there have been encouraging "signs of significant Improvements" in education in which people’s interest has grown tremendously.

The country had a 24.8 per cent rate of literacy until 1990 which, according to a recent survey conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), rose to more than 28 per cent in 1993.

The Prime Minister hoped that the country's literacy rate would continue to increase as the government has been able

to create a favourable atmosphere for promoting primary education.

She was addressing the Inaugural session of a day-long discussion on "Strategy for Implementing Education for All," organised by the Primary and Mass Education Department at the Os many Memorial Auditorium here yesterday morning.

Terming Illiteracy as a curse and the cause of backwardness, the Prime Minister observed that "our huge manpower would have turned Into human resource if the nation was free from the curse of illiteracy."

The present government has started its campaign against Illiteracy from the villages where the majority of the population live, she said.

She mentioned different

programmes of the government Including "Education for All" to increase the literacy rate, "Food for Education" for the poor and underpriviledged children and the Compulsory Primary Education Programme.

The Prime Minister said education is a prerequisite for development of human resources which brings about progress and prosperity of a nation.

She recalled that late President Ziaur Rahman had Introduced the Mass Education Programme to enable the people of all ages to read and write, but the programme was abandoned by the autocratic regime. "We have reintroduced the Mass Education Programme and have taken steps to transform It Into a mass movement."

Begum Zia sought cooperation from every conscious citizen, political party as well as social and nongovernment organisations for successful Implementation of the programme. The Mass Education Programme Is a huge arrangement which cannot be implemented by the government alone, she added.

The Prime Minister said it should be our national pledge today to emerge as an educated nation in the 21 st century.

Deputy Leader of the House Prof A Q M Badruddoza Chowdhury, Information Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda and Secretary of Primary and Mass Education Division Kazi Raki-buddtn Ahmed also spoke at the Inaugural session.