The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a seminar here on Saturday stated that a collective effort of all concerned has become essential to make the nation free from the curses of illiteracy.

In this context, they laid emphasis on taking a holistic approach towards raising the literacy rate of the country for further progress.

They mentioned that primary school teachers and social workers should play an important role for spreading literacy throughout the country to achieve millennium development goals and make education for all (EFA) programme a success. They were addressing the seminar titled "Dissemination of Bangla Version of EFA Global monitoring Report-2008" arranged by the National Association of UNESCO Clubs in Bangladesh (NAUCB) in cooperation with UNESCO Dhaka and UNESCO Club of Rajshahi at the conference hall of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Principal of Rajshahi College Professor Dr Ali Reza Muhammad Abdul Mazid addressed the seminar as the chief guest with NAUCB Adviser and Associate Professor ANM Saleh of Psychology of Rajshahi University in the chair.

Professor Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury of Sociology Department of Dhaka University presented the keynote paper.

Among others, Secretary General of NAUCB Mahbubuddin Chowdhury, former Chairman of Rajshahi Education Board Professor Nurul Alam, District Education Officer Dr Sadhan Kumar Bishwas, Journalist Mustafizur Rahman Khan Alam and Abdul Kafi Chowdhury spoke on the occasion.

Terming the country's literacy rate unsatisfactory, the speakers said the affluent section of the people has been getting more benefit from the present education system than the poor ones due to corruption and different other irregularities as well as increased expenditure in every sector.

They said proper attention should be given for creating awareness among all quarters in this regard taking into consideration the need for improved education to help build an efficient nation and called upon all to help achieve UNESCO goals by 2015.