Qatar reduces illiteracy among citizens to 4%

Data issued by the Census Department in Qatar has shown strenuous efforts by the state over the past two decades to eradicate illiteracy and realize ambitious development plans. In a press release on the International Literacy Day which falls on September 8, the department said that Qatar has succeeded over the past 20 years in reducing the rate of illiteracy among Qatari citizens from 6.20 percent in 1990, to 4.4 percent in 2010 , whereas it stands at present at 2.11 percent among males and 6.53 percent among females. According to data derived from the results of the 2010 census the number of illiterates dropped from 12108 in 2004 to 7583 in 2010. According to geographical distribution, the number of illiterates in Doha was 2097, or 27.7 percent, Al Rayyan 4154 or 54.8 percent, Al-Wakra 327 or 4.3 percent, Umm Salal 530 or 7 percent . In al Khour it was 218 or 2.9 percent, Al Shamal 109 or 1.4 percent , Al Daian 148 or 1.9 percent. The Census Department recommended increasing literacy classes, taking into account that geographical distribution should be commensurate with the number of illiterates in municipalities and various other regions . It also recommended that classes should be close to residence of illiterate females.