Editing Literacy (section)

===Asia===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Adult literacy rate
! Youth literacy rate<br />(15–24)
|-
| [[Afghanistan]]
| 43% (2020)<ref name="Literacy-rate-in-Afghanistan">{{Cite web |date=2020-03-17 |title=Interview: "Literacy rate in Afghanistan increased to 43 per cent", UNESCO |url=https://uil.unesco.org/interview-literacy-rate-afghanistan-increased-43-cent |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205135342/https://uil.unesco.org/interview-literacy-rate-afghanistan-increased-43-cent |archive-date=5 December 2021 |access-date=11 March 2021}}</ref>
| 65% (2020)<ref name="Literacy-rate-in-Afghanistan" />
|-
| [[Bangladesh]]
| 72.76% (2016)<ref name="dhakatribune">{{Cite web |date=21 March 2018 |title=Unesco: Bangladesh literacy rate reaches all-time high of 72.76% in 2016 |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/education/2018/03/21/unesco-bangladesh-literacy-rate-reaches-time-high-72-76-2016/ |website=dhakatribune.com}}</ref>
| 92.24% (2016)<ref name="dhakatribune" />
|-
| [[China]]
| colspan=2 | 96.7% (2015)<ref name="World-Factbook-China">{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/china/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220073104/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/china/ |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=28 September 2009}}</ref>
|-
| [[India]]
| 74.04% (2011)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census of India |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/indiaatglance.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423075526/https://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/indiaatglance.html |archive-date=2022-04-23}}</ref>
| 89.6% (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO Institute for Statistics |url=http://www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx?code=IND&regioncode=40535 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018002158/http://www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx?code=IND&regioncode=40535 |archive-date=18 October 2015 |access-date=17 September 2015 |publisher=Stats.uis.unesco.org}}</ref>
|-
| [[Iran]]
| colspan=2 | Unclear
|-
| [[Laos]]
| colspan=2 | Unclear
|-
| [[Nepal]]
| 67.5% (2007)
| 89.9% (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO Institute for Statistics |url=http://www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx?code=NPL&regioncode=40535 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117061256/http://www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx?code=NPL&regioncode=40535 |archive-date=17 January 2016 |access-date=17 September 2015 |publisher=Stats.uis.unesco.org}}</ref>
|-
| [[Pakistan]]
| 58% (2017)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=A |date=27 April 2018 |title=No improvement in literacy rate |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1404082/no-improvement-in-literacy-rate |website=dawn.com}}</ref>
| 75.6% (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO Institute for Statistics |url=http://www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx?code=PAK&regioncode=40535 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225050612/http://uis.unesco.org/ |archive-date=25 December 2018 |access-date=17 September 2015 |publisher=Stats.uis.unesco.org}}</ref>
|-
| [[Philippines]]
| colspan=2 | 91.6% (2019)<ref name="Functional-Literacy-Rate-Philippine-Statistics-Authority">{{Cite web |title=Functional Literacy Rate is Estimated at 91.6 Percent in 2019 |publisher=Philippine Statistics Authority |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/functional-literacy-rate-estimated-916-percent-2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214075333/https://psa.gov.ph/content/functional-literacy-rate-estimated-916-percent-2019 |archive-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sri Lanka]]
| 92.63% (2015)<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-Sri-Lanka-2011">{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=Annual Report 2010 |url=http://www.treasury.gov.lk/reports/annualreport/AnnualReport2010-eng.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201012336/http://www.treasury.gov.lk/reports/annualreport/AnnualReport2010-eng.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2011 |access-date=15 July 2014 |publisher=Ministry of Finance – Sri Lanka}}</ref>
| 98% (2015)<ref name="indexmundicom">{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka literacy rate |url=http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/sri-lanka/literacy-rate |publisher=indexmundi.com}}</ref>
|}

====Afghanistan====
[[File:Schoolgirls in Bamozai.JPG|thumb|Young school girls in [[Paktia Province]] of Afghanistan]] According to [[UNESCO]], [[Afghanistan]] has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. As of 2020, over 10 million youth and adults are illiterate. However, since 2016, the country has made significant progress. While in 2016–2017 the literacy rate was 34.8%, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics recently confirmed that it has increased to 43%. "That is a remarkable 8 percent increase." In addition, the literacy rate for youths aged 15–24 has substantially increased and now stands at 65%.<ref name="Literacy-rate-in-Afghanistan" />

However, there are still a large number of people who lack literacy and opportunities to access continuing education. There is also a substantial gender gap: the literacy rate for men stands at 55%, while for women it is only 29.8%. The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning has provided technical support to the government of Afghanistan since 2012, with the aim of improving the literacy skills of an estimated 1.2 million people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-17 |title=Interview: "Literacy rate in Afghanistan increased to 43 per cent" |url=https://uil.unesco.org/interview-literacy-rate-afghanistan-increased-43-cent |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=uil.unesco.org |archive-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205135342/https://uil.unesco.org/interview-literacy-rate-afghanistan-increased-43-cent |url-status=dead }}</ref>

To improve the literacy rate, the US military taught Afghan Army recruits how to read before teaching them how to fire a weapon. In 2009, US commanders estimated that as many as 65% of recruits may be illiterate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baron |first=Kevin |date=2009-12-10 |title=United States Training Plan for Afghanistan: Read First, Shoot Later |work=STARS AND STRIPES |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/u-s-training-plan-read-first-shoot-later-1.97205}}</ref>

====China====
{{main|Education in the People's Republic of China}}
The Chinese government conducts standardized testing to assess proficiency in [[Standard Chinese]], known as ''Putonghua'', but this is primarily for foreigners or those needing to demonstrate professional proficiency in the [[Beijing]] dialect. While literacy in Chinese can be assessed by reading comprehension tests, just as in other languages, historically, literacy has often been judged by the number of Chinese characters introduced during the speaker's schooling, with a few thousand considered the minimum for practical literacy.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

The CIA World Factbook says 96.7% of Chinese people are literate;<ref name="World-Factbook-China" /> however, social science surveys in China have repeatedly found that just over half the population of China is conversant in spoken ''Putonghua''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 March 2007 |title=More than half of Chinese can speak mandarin |work=China View |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/07/content_5812838.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315211818/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/07/content_5812838.htm |archive-date=15 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 September 2013 |title=Beijing says 400 million Chinese cannot speak Mandarin |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-23975037}}</ref> In classical Chinese civilization, access to literacy for all classes originated with [[Confucianism]], where previously literacy was generally limited to the aristocracy, merchants, and priests.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

====India====
{{main|Literacy in India}}
Literacy is defined by the [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] as the ability of "a person aged 7 years and above to both write and read with understanding in any language." According to the [[Census of India, 2011|2011 census]], the literacy rate stood at 74%.<ref>{{Cite book |title=2011 Census of India |publisher=Government of India |year=2011 |chapter=State of Literacy of Rural Urban Population}}</ref>

====Iran====
In 2023, the Iranian government stopped a literacy campaign that had begun in 1930, despite 9 million people still being reported as illiterate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The literacy movement is facing a shortage of human resources |script-title=fa:نهضت سوادآموزی با کمبود نیروی انسانی مواجه است |url=https://www.irna.ir/amp/85210851/}}</ref> The government reported that elementary school education cost 5–40 million toman (approximately US$12–95 or €11–89) per child per year,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The condition of receiving more than the approved tuition fees in non-government schools was announced |script-title=fa:شرط دریافت مبالغی بیش از شهریه مصوب در مدارس غیردولتی اعلام شد |url=https://www.eghtesadonline.com/n/3hq8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829100558/https://www.eghtesadonline.com/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C-30/733012-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B7-%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D8%BA%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AA%DB%8C |archive-date=2023-08-29 |access-date=2023-09-19}}</ref> and 27% of children did not sign up for first grade because of the cost.<ref>{{Cite web |title=27% of first graders have not registered |script-title=fa:۲۷ درصد کلاس اولی‌ها ثبت نام نکرده‌اند |url=https://ettelaat.com/0003aP |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919042524/https://ettelaat.com/fa/news/13789/%DB%B2%DB%B7-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%AF-%DA%A9%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%AB%D8%A8%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%86%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF |archive-date=2023-09-19 |access-date=2023-09-19}}</ref>

====Laos====
[[File:Lao schoolgirls reading books.jpg|thumb|right|Three [[Lao people|Laotian]] girls sit outside their school reading.]]

[[Laos]] has the lowest level of adult literacy in all of [[Southeast Asia]], other than [[East Timor]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adult literacy rate (both sexes) (% aged 15 and above) |url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/indicators/6.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513165357/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/indicators/6.html |archive-date=13 May 2011 |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=International human development indicators}}</ref>

Obstacles to literacy vary by country and culture, as writing systems, quality of education, availability of written material, competition from other sources (television, video games, cell phones, and family obligations), and culture all influence literacy levels. In Laos, which has a [[Phonetic transcription|phonetic]] alphabet, reading is relatively easy to learn—especially compared to [[English language|English]], where spelling and pronunciation rules are filled with exceptions, and [[Chinese language|Chinese]], with thousands of symbols to be memorized. However, a lack of books and other written materials has hindered functional literacy in Laos.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daniel G. Dorner |first=G. E. Gorman |title=Contextual factors affecting learning in Laos and the implications for information literacy education |url=https://informationr.net/ir/16-2/paper479.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=informationr.net |language=en}}</ref> Many children and adults read so haltingly that the skill is hardly beneficial.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

A literacy project in Laos addresses this by using what it calls "books that make literacy fun!" The project, [[Big Brother Mouse]], publishes colorful, easy-to-read books, then delivers them during book parties at rural schools. Some of the books are modeled on successful western books by authors such as [[Dr. Seuss]]; the most popular, however, are traditional Laotian fairy tales. Two popular collections of folktales were written by Siphone Vouthisakdee, who comes from a village where only five children finished primary school.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krausz |first=Tibor |date=21 February 2011 |title=Publishing Children's Books and Delivering Them by Elephant |work=Christian Science Monitor |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/2011/0221/Publishing-children-s-books-and-delivering-them-by-elephant |access-date=25 December 2013}}</ref>

Big Brother Mouse has also created village reading rooms and published books for adult readers about subjects such as Buddhism, health, and baby care.<ref>{{Citation |last=Wells |first=Bonnie |title=Picturing Laos |date=27 August 2010 |publisher=Amherst Bulletin}}</ref>

====Pakistan====
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2023}}
In [[Pakistan]], the [[National Commission for Human Development]] aims to bring literacy to adults, especially women. While speaking at a function held in connection with [[International Literacy Day]], Islamabad Director Kozue Kay Nagata said:

{{blockquote|Illiteracy in Pakistan has fallen over two decades, thanks to the government and people of Pakistan for their efforts working toward meeting the [[Millennium Development Goals]]. Today, 70 percent of Pakistani youths can read and write. In 20 years, illiterate population has been reduced significantly.}}

She also emphasized the need to do more to improve literacy in the country, saying:
{{blockquote|The proportion of population in Pakistan lacking basic reading and writing is too high. This is a serious obstacle for individual fulfillment, to the development of societies, and to mutual understanding between peoples.}}

Referring to the recent national survey carried out by the Ministry of Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education with the support of UNESCO, [[UNICEF]], and provincial and area departments of education, Nagata pointed out that in Pakistan, although 70% of children finish primary school, a gender gap still exists as 68% of girls finish compared to 71% of boys.

Referring specifically to [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], she said that while the primary school completion rate is higher at 76%, there is a gender gap of 8 percentage points: 72% of girls compared to 80% for boys. She also noted that the average cost per primary school student (ages five–nine) was higher in Punjab at Rs 6,998 (approximately US$24 or €22.5).

In [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]], although almost the same amount (Rs 6,985) is spent per child as in Punjab, the primary school completion rate is only 53%: 54% for girls and 52% for boys.

The Literate Pakistan Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2003, is a case study bringing to light solutions for improving literacy rates in Pakistan. Their data shows that in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], the primary school completion rate is 67%, which is lower than the national average of 70%. Furthermore, a gender gap exists, with only 65% of girls completing primary school compared to 68% of boys. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the education expenditure per student at the primary school level (age five–nine) is Rs 8,638 ($30, €28).

In [[Sindh]], the primary school completion rate is 63%, with a gender gap of 67% of girls completing primary school compared to 60% of boys.{{Clarify|date=September 2023|reason=Are these rates reversed?}} In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the education expenditure per student at the primary school level (age five–nine) is Rs 5,019 ($17.50, €16.50).

Nagata, referencing the report, said that the most common reason for children ages 10–18 (both boys and girls) leaving school is "the child [is] not willing to go to school", which may be related to quality and learning outcome. She added that the second-highest reason for girls living in rural communities dropping out is that their "parents did not allow" them to continue school, which might be related to prejudice and cultural norms surrounding girls.

====Philippines====
{{main|Baybayin}}
About 91.6% of Filipinos ages 10–64 were functionally literate in 2019, according to the results of the 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey; this translates to around 73.0 million out of the population of 79.7 million.<ref name="Functional-Literacy-Rate-Philippine-Statistics-Authority" />
Starting in 300 BCE, early Filipinos devised and used their own writing system derived from the Brahmic family of scripts of [[ancient India]]. [[Baybayin]] became the most widespread of these derived scripts by the 11th century. Early chroniclers, who came during the first Spanish expeditions to the islands, noted the proficiency of some of the natives, especially the chieftain and local kings, in [[Sanskrit]], [[Old Javanese]], [[Old Malay]], and several other languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viasat vs HughesNet Satellite Internet |url=http://bibingka.com/dahon/lci/lci.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2003 |title=Over the edge of the world: Magellan's terrifying circumnavigation of the globe |url=https://archive.org/details/overedgeofworl00berg}}</ref>

During the Spanish colonization of the islands, reading materials were destroyed far less than during the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Education and literacy were introduced solely to the [[Peninsulares]] and remained a privilege until the arrival of Americans, who introduced a public school system to the country, and English became the ''lingua franca'' in the Philippines. During the brief [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines]], the Japanese were able to teach their language and teach the children their written language.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

====Sri Lanka====
{{main|Education in Sri Lanka}}
[[File:Sarachchandra Theatre.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Peradeniya]]'s [[Sarachchandra open-air theatre]], named in memory of [[Ediriweera Sarachchandra]], Sri Lanka's premier playwright]]
With a [[literacy rate]] of 92.5%,<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-Sri-Lanka-2011" /> Sri Lanka has one of the most literate [[populations]] among [[developing country|developing nations]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gunawardena |first=Chandra |year=1997 |title=Problems of Illiteracy in a Literate Developing Society: Sri Lanka |journal=International Review of Education |volume=43 |issue=5/6 |pages=595–609 |bibcode=1997IREdu..43..595G |doi=10.1023/A:1003010726149 |jstor=3445068 |s2cid=142788627}}</ref> Its youth literacy rate stands at 98%,<ref name="indexmundicom" /> its computer literacy rate at 35%,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Govt targets 75% computer literacy rate by 2016 |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/07/29/cdnstory.asp?sid=20110705_01 |website=The Daily News}}</ref> and its primary school enrollment rate at over 99%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka – Statistics |url=http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/sri_lanka_statistics.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142313/https://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/sri_lanka_statistics.html |archive-date=30 August 2018 |access-date=2 August 2017 |publisher=[[UNICEF]]}}</ref> An education system that dictates nine years of [[Compulsory education|compulsory schooling]] for every child is in place. The [[free education|free education system]], established in 1945,<ref>{{Cite book |last=De Silva |first= K. M. |title=A Short History of Sri Lanka |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-520-04320-6 |location=Los Angeles |page=472}}</ref> is a result of the initiative of [[C. W. W. Kannangara]] and A. Ratnayake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honouring the Father of Free Education |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/06/08/fea26.asp |website=The Daily News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Who was "Father" of free education in Sri Lanka?: C.W.W. Kannangara or A. Ratnayake? |url=http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/10/who_was_father_of_free_educati.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065821/http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/10/who_was_father_of_free_educati.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=21 November 2012 |publisher=Trans Currents |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world that provides universal free education from the primary to the tertiary stage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education: Traditional and Colonial Systems |url=http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/46.htm |publisher=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]]}}</ref>