In a press release by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) dated 08th September, 2023 on the occasion of the International Literacy Day 2023. It categorically catalogues the literacy and illiteracy status of Palestine and its people which was clear. The illiteracy rate in Palestine is one of the lowest rate in the World despite been fragile and occupied territory.
The illiteracy rate reached 2.2% among Palestinian population (15 years and above) during 2022. Thus, the illiteracy rate among Palestinians aged 15 years and above in the occupied Palestinian territory in 1948 reached 3.6% in 2017, according to the data of the Galilee Society (Rikaz).
The illiteracy rate decreased in Palestine by 84% throughout the last two decades. Illiteracy rate among the Palestinian population (aged 15 years and above) in Palestine decreased during the period 1997-2022 from 13.9% to 2.2%. The rate declined from 7.8% in 1997 to 1.1% in 2022 among males, and declined from 20.3% to 3.3% among females during the same period. Illiteracy rate by region decreased from 14.1% in 1997 to 2.4% in 2022 in the West Bank, and decreased from 13.7% in 1997 to 1.8% in 2022 in Gaza Strip.
More than half of illiterate persons are elderly. The age group (65 years and above) recorded the highest rate, while the lowest rate was among the age group (30-44 years).
In 2022, the illiteracy rate reached 2.9% in rural localities (around 15 thousand illiterate persons), 2.3% in refugee camps (around 6 thousand illiterate persons) and 2.0% (around 51 thousand illiterate persons)
in urban areas.
With this significant literacy achievement made by Palestine over decades are washing away in front of our eyes, watching it on our screen as video game. Our message is clear. Israel needs to stop the deliberate violation of humanitarian human right law and stop undermining of the growth of Palestine. We fear that the illiteracy rate among other humanitarian crisis will boost given the widespread devastation of Palestine infrastructure by Israel. Network AID vehemently condemn the act on HAMAS in October against the Israel
Network AID is in tune with the call of the United Nations Secretary General to the Security Council in December 2023 and now the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Martin Griffiths' briefing to the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in January 2024.
We urgently call on the ten (10) non-permanent security council member states to do the needful as enshrine on the UN Charter (maintenance of world peace and security). Sierra Leone the pride of education promotion MUST take the lead at the security council in the restoration of Palestinian literacy history.
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