Bengal attains 99 per cent literacy rate, says Buddhadeb

Updated on: Monday, September 06, 2010

West Bengal has achieved 99 per cent literacy rate, CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee claimed and said the government hoped to reach cent per cent literacy rate soon.

"We have achieved 99 per cent literacy rate and I am confident that we will reach the targeted cent per cent literacy rate very soon," Bhattacharjee told a programme on the Teachers' Day.

The Chief Minister said though children were going to schools, the important thing was to see that they did not drop out midway. "The Mid-Day Meal has helped a lot to bring the students to the school, but still this is not enough."

He also stressed on the necessity of women's education which, according to him, faced impediments due to social inequality.

"Women in most cases are not allowed to complete their education and most families pressure them to get married early. They also have the right to education," Bhattacharjee said.

There is also a language problem in the tribal areas and often students do not understand the language of the teachers or vice versa, he said.

Seventeen primary, high and madrassa teachers from all over the state were felicitated in the programme which was organised by a teachers' body.

Bengal attains 99 per cent literacy rate, says Buddhadeb

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