Editing Literacy (section)

====Niger====
[[Niger]] has an extremely low literacy rate of 28.7%, in part due to the gender gap—men have a literacy rate of 42.9%, while for women it is only 15.1%. The [[Nigerien government]] defines literacy as anyone who can read or write over the age of 15.<ref name="National-Population-and-Housing-Census-2014" /> The Niass [[Tijāniyyah]], a [[Sufism|Sufi]] order, has started anti-poverty, empowerment, and literacy campaigns. The women in [[Kiota]] had not attempted to improve their education or economic standing until Saida Oumul Khadiri Niass, known as Maman and married to a leader of the Niass Tijaniyya, talked to men and women throughout the community, changing the community's beliefs on appropriate behavior for women. Maman's efforts have allowed women in Kiota to own small businesses, sell in the market, attend literacy classes, and organize small associations that can give microloans. Maman personally teaches children in and around Kiota, with special attention to girls. Maman has her students require instructor permission to allow the girls' parents to marry their daughters early, increasing the amount of education these girls receive as well as delaying marriage, pregnancy, and having children.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barnes |first=Shailly |year=2009 |title=RELIGION SOCIAL CAPITAL AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SAHEL: THE NIASS TIJANIYYA IN NIGER |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/39764466 |journal=Journal of International Affairs |volume=62 |issue=2 |pages=209–221 |access-date=8 November 2014}}</ref>