UNICEF grants $50,000 to Algeria to fight illiteracy

20/10/2006

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) earmarked $50,000 over a five-year period to Algeria to support the fight against illiteracy under an agreement signed between its Algerian representative Raymond Janssens and the Algerian Association Fighting Illiteracy (IQRA), Quotidien d'Oran reported on Thursday (October 19th).

According to IQRA data, 21% of the Algerian population is illiterate. During the signing ceremony, Janssens stressed the alarming number of children who leave school without finishing their studies every year, estimated to be at least 400,000.

He said efforts should strive to make Algerian schools more interesting and attractive, with stronger focus on activities linked to computer sciences, sports, theatre, drawing, and reading. (Quotidien d'Oran, La Nouvelle Republique, El Watan)