Illiteracy means complete inability to read and write. This illiteracy is a social curse. It is the root of ignorance, superstition and backwardness.
Most people in Bangladesh are illiterate. 68% of the population is deprived of minimum education despite compulsory primary education. Our national life is retarded and beset with innumerable problems—problems created by illiteracy and superstitions. The poverty-stricken people dishearten their children to take education rather they engage their children for craning. As our farmers are illiterate, they cannot grow more production because they are unaware of the latest technical instrument. Not only in agriculture but also in mills, factories we cannot get proper output due to illiterate, non skilled workers. In fact, it is responsible for poor health and bad sanitary condition.
It is the spirit of education that can help to eradicate the curse of illiteracy. It is the duty of every Govt. to remove illiteracy from the grass root level.
At present education has been made compulsory up to primary level. But lots of children can't go to primary schools because they have to work for their families. Besides, a large number of boys and girls are compelled to give up education after free primary level. So they forget very soon what they have learnt.
There should be adequate arrangement for education. Night schools must be set up. In addition Radio and TV can play a vital role in this regard. Students, teachers, youngmen, women and other responsible persons of the society can do voluntary services to teach the illiterate people and can make them feel the importance of the education.
In fine, illiteracy is a fundamental problem in our country. In order to give our development program a permanent shape, there is no alternative to eradicating this problem as early as possible.
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