Literacy

Today, 8th September 2008, is World Literacy Day.

Literacy covers a wide scope but in its most elementary explanation it means the ability to read and write for effective communication...well even if is not so effective, it should at least connote a level of communication understood by the mass.
Yesterday, 7th September 2008, we read in The Star the plight of M. Rajeshvari who was locked up in the Lenggong Immigration Depot for 11 months simply for the reason she could not communicate effectively with the authorities when she could not remember her identity card number. Much thanks to the fine young man - Andrew Raju who courageously took up the case and brought the much - needed justice to the poor mother of the 10 month-old baby.




A look at the Malaysian July statistics shows that 88.7% of the 15 year old age group are literate and out of this figure, 92% are males and 85.4% are females.
Let us hope we will be successful in producing a population that is literate according to world standards so that the rights of the common folks are protected.

The plight of the poor lady sets my head reeling and my heart bleeding for a mistake that was so uncalled for...if only she could communicate more effectively.