Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said conscious and well-educated citizens are essential for the success of nation's effort to establish honest leadership and real democracy by uprooting corruption in the country.

It is also necessary to set up knowledge-based enlightened society through establishing good governance and ensuring justice and human rights, and to keep the wheels of economy moving, he said.

“For this, today it is very urgent to enlighten all citizens with the light of education in the shortest possible time.”

The chief adviser made the remarks while inaugurating the main programme marking the International Literacy Day 2007 at the osmani Memorial Auditorium.

This year's theme of the Literacy Day is 'Literacy: Key to health and well-being'.

Fakhruddin said ensuring quality education for all is one of the major national issues while eradicating illiteracy within shortest possible time is now the prime challenge.

He said combined effort by all is essential to face the challenges and implement the initiatives already taken.

“Specially setting up an effective connection between schools and society is a demand of time.”

Apart from the government, he said, it is also essential to build up firm institutional foundation comprising private organisations, representatives of civil society and elite in conducting the schools.

Strengthening supervision is necessary for ensuring quality education and for its expansion, he added.

The chief adviser called upon teachers, guardians, officers and employees, governing committees of schools, NGos and members of civil society to work together in this regard.

He said education has been recognised as the most effective weapon for attaining rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, and in poverty alleviation and empowering people.

A national working plan has been adopted to ensure quality education for all to fulfill the constitutional obligation and the country's pledge to the international community, he added.

“Keeping this in mind the present government has attached topmost priority to education, the most vital driving force to take the nation forward.”

Referring to the current national budgetary allocation of about Tk 12,500 crore for education and technology sectors, Fakhruddin hoped that this would play a meaningful role in the sustainable economic growth of the country.

He said various measures, including implementation of compulsory primary education, are being carried out across the country to raise the literacy rate to 90 percent by the year 2015.

He said emphasis has been laid on increasing the rate of enrolment of children in primary school, achievement of gender parity,

development of quality education at the primary level and ensuring equal rights for education as the tactical goal for 'Education for all by the year 2015.”

“Already the country's achievement in this field has been acclaimed worldwide, but we'll have to go a long way and have to reach the target by all means.”

The chief adviser urged all to contribute in raising the “status of our dearest motherland having enormous potentials” through patriotism and productive and moral education.

He expressed the hope for successful completion of all efforts to establish a modern and prosperous Bangladesh and in making worthy citizens by ensuring quality education.

Education Adviser Ayub Quadri presided over the function organised by the Primary and Mass Education Ministry.

Secretary in-charge of the Primary and Mass Education Ministry M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan also spoke at the function.

Advisers to the caretaker government, teachers of different schools, representative of development partners and high civil and military official were present.