BISHA: The Ministry of Education has launched four new awareness and anti-illiteracy courses in Hail, Al-Baha, Mahayel Asir and Mahd Al-Thahab. Ajlan Saleh Al-Sayel, the ministry's Director General for Adult Education, said actual study starts on Nov. 28 and ends on July 21, 2011. “The courses are open to Saudis and foreigners. The certificate obtained by the students is equivalent to the last year of primary school,” said Al-Sayel. He added that the directors of education in the regions, were authorized to supervise, support and contract teachers for the courses. Each village or town included in the campaign will have one classroom with five to 20 learners. “The rate of illiteracy in the Kingdom dropped to 13 percent at the end of 2009. Among males the rate is 6.7 percent while it is 19.4 percent among females,” added Al-Sayel. He said the UN has plans for the world to eradicate illiteracy by 2012.
