Zimbabwe Continues To Top Literacy Rankings In Southern Africa

Zimbabwe has the highest overall literacy rate in Southern Africa at over 90%, according to the latest United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation statistics on literacy in Africa. The statistics, which were released during celebrations to mark the International Literacy Day on 12 September 2007, also revealed that 97% of Zimbabwean youths were literate compared to a regional average of 69.4% while the adult literacy rate was 89.4% compared to the regional average of 59.4%. In 2006, the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development ranked the quality of education in Zimbabwe the third best in Africa. These developments prompted the University of Maryland in the United States of America to give Zimbabwe an award for excellence at the Second African Awards in January 2007 in recognition of the investments made by the Zimbabwe Government in the education sector. Zimbabwe's impressive literacy levels have indeed been premised on a sound education system, which has advanced well since independence in 1980. His Excellency President R.G. Mugabe, himself a former teacher and a holder of several Honours and Master's degrees, as well as Doctorates in various disciplines, launched the campaign for literacy in Zimbabwe in July 1983 and has continued to support the development of the education sector across the country, hence the remarkable achievements by the country.