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Bulawayo youths most 'literate' in Zimbabwe
23 Apr 2015 at 10:02hrs | Views
BULAWAYO has the most literate youths in Zimbabwe, new data shows. A high of 96,9 percent men aged between 15 and 24 can read and write in Bulawayo, more than any other province, says the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat).
Some 97,4 percent of Bulawayo women in the same age group are literate, bettered only by Harare with 98,1 percent.
Matabeleland North province has the lowest overall literacy in the country, the figures show, with 86,8 percent.
The Multi Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014 final report says literacy was "assessed on the ability of the respondents to read a statement in full for those with primary level of education or based on school attendance for those respondents who had attended at least secondary school."
The Youth Literacy Rate reflects the outcomes of primary education over 10 years or so.
"As a measure of the effectiveness of the primary education system, it is often seen as a proxy measure of social progress and economic achievement," the report said.
In a study of about 5,677 young women aged between 15 and 24 in the country, it emerged that 97,4 percent females from Bulawayo are literate while the young men showed an impressive 96,9 percent literacy rate.
Harare has a slightly higher proportion of literate young women at 98,1 percent.
Bulawayo's literacy rates are above the national average, which is rated the best in Africa at 91 percent.
Equatorial Guinea is second to Zimbabwe with 87 percent followed by South Africa with 86 percent, according to the African Economist magazine.
Overall, the MICS survey indicates that young women are more literate than men in Zimbabwe.
About 92 percent of young women in the country can read and write compared to 88,6 percent of young men.
"Of women who stated that primary school was their highest level of education, 62, 8 percent were able to read in full the statement shown to them," reads the report.
The proportion of women in urban areas who could read the statement in full was 98,1 percent and 88,8 percent in rural areas.
Matabeleland North province has the lowest literacy levels in the country with 86,8 percent, followed by Mashonaland Central with 87,2 percent.
"Literacy levels increased with an increase in wealth of the household," notes the survey.
President Mugabe is credited for Zimbabwe's high literacy rate after he declared education a basic human right following independence in 1980.
The government embarked on a programme to build hundreds of schools and dozens of universities and colleges across the country.
Low levels of literacy and education in general can impede the economic development of a country in the rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Some 97,4 percent of Bulawayo women in the same age group are literate, bettered only by Harare with 98,1 percent.
Matabeleland North province has the lowest overall literacy in the country, the figures show, with 86,8 percent.
The Multi Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014 final report says literacy was "assessed on the ability of the respondents to read a statement in full for those with primary level of education or based on school attendance for those respondents who had attended at least secondary school."
The Youth Literacy Rate reflects the outcomes of primary education over 10 years or so.
"As a measure of the effectiveness of the primary education system, it is often seen as a proxy measure of social progress and economic achievement," the report said.
In a study of about 5,677 young women aged between 15 and 24 in the country, it emerged that 97,4 percent females from Bulawayo are literate while the young men showed an impressive 96,9 percent literacy rate.
Harare has a slightly higher proportion of literate young women at 98,1 percent.
Bulawayo's literacy rates are above the national average, which is rated the best in Africa at 91 percent.
Overall, the MICS survey indicates that young women are more literate than men in Zimbabwe.
About 92 percent of young women in the country can read and write compared to 88,6 percent of young men.
"Of women who stated that primary school was their highest level of education, 62, 8 percent were able to read in full the statement shown to them," reads the report.
The proportion of women in urban areas who could read the statement in full was 98,1 percent and 88,8 percent in rural areas.
Matabeleland North province has the lowest literacy levels in the country with 86,8 percent, followed by Mashonaland Central with 87,2 percent.
"Literacy levels increased with an increase in wealth of the household," notes the survey.
President Mugabe is credited for Zimbabwe's high literacy rate after he declared education a basic human right following independence in 1980.
The government embarked on a programme to build hundreds of schools and dozens of universities and colleges across the country.
Low levels of literacy and education in general can impede the economic development of a country in the rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Source - chronicle
