Education for every child, everywhere
MEDIA ADVISORY UNICEF appeals for support to help educate every child, so that they are empowered to participate, protect themselves and contribute towards social development. KUALA LUMPUR, 31 August 2009 – A child who is not literate is deprived of opportunities for education, participation and self-improvement. This International Literacy Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spotlights the importance of literacy as the key learning tool and the foundation for fulfilling every child’s right to education. “Without the building blocks of literacy, children have far fewer opportunities to fully participate in their communities or to gain knowledge that can improve their lives and that of their families,” said UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Mr Youssouf Oomar. The theme of literacy underlines UNICEF’s appeal to raise funds for education programs in Malaysia and around the world, and give children a boost in life. The ABCs of life In one of the slums in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 12 year-old Hosneara worked as a brick-breaker and earned less than RM 1.20 a day. Her employer used to cheat her on the length and height of the bricks because she could not count for herself. After attending classes initiated by UNICEF with the Government of Bangladesh, Hosneara learned to count and could defend herself from being taken advantage of. “The value of literacy goes beyond the ability to read, write and count. For the 93 million primary-aged children who are estimated to be out of school, it means that they are less able to escape poverty, be healthy, grow strong or be safe,” said Mr Youssouf.
In Malaysia, the number is far less due to Government efforts to democratise education since the days of Independence. Today, more than 90 per cent of primary-aged children in the country attend school. The Ministry of Education, however, estimates that some 125,000 primary-aged children are not in school, a result of remote locations and socio-economic factors like cultural traditions and poverty. ”The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises every child’s right to receive free primary education in a safe, healthy and protective environment, regardless of gender, background or mental and physical abilities,” Mr Youssouf emphasised. Unlocking the future The Government of Malaysia recognises the need to address these disparities in access, equity and quality of education, especially among vulnerable groups of children, including children living in rural and remote areas, indigenous children and Orang Asli children. Working in partnership with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF is supporting this goal through innovative programs that improve literacy among children from Orang Asli communities and remote schools of Sabah and Sarawak. “I myself have never been to school. I can’t believe my daughter will have a chance to attend school. I hope her success will be an inspiration for other children,” said Lijas Jais, a 27 year-old Orang Asli mother from Kampung Peta, Johor. In many other parts of the world, UNICEF works to ensure that children are in school where they belong, whether they are girls at risk of gender discrimination, former child soldiers from conflict areas, children forced to work in urban slums, or children affected by disasters and crises. Building alliances with partners in Malaysia and around the world, UNICEF is working in unity to advocate for, and support, policies that address the factors affecting children’s access to education. “A childhood without education is no childhood at all. Public support for our programs will help ensure that we prevent this tragedy for children everywhere,” said Mr Youssouf. To find out more about how to donate to UNICEF’s education programs, call 03-2095 9154. ......................................................................................... NOTE TO EDITORS: ABOUT International Literacy Day ABOUT UNICEF and its work with Education MEDIA PRIMA RADIO NETWORKS support International Literacy Day FOR MORE INFORMATION: Indra Kumari Nadchatram, UNICEF Malaysia Shiao Eek, Tee, UNICEF Malaysia Faradiza Zahri, UNICEF Malaysia
International Literacy Day 2009  8 September 2009 CRC@20 Video PSA Media Prima Radio PSAs
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