Riyadh — The illiteracy rate in the Kingdom has declined from 60% in 1972 to only 4% in 2012. The Kingdom efforts in combating illiteracy began when King Abdulaziz initiated resettlement of Bedouins, and provided them with scholars to educate them. A royal decree was issued in 1972, approving elderly and illiterate education, followed by an all encompassing plan in which many concerned bodies participated. The number of elderly education and literacy schools reached 3,087 in 2012, attended by 82,797 illiterates and the elderly from both genders.