KUWAIT CITY, Sept 8: Kuwait marked International Literacy Day on Monday, joining countries and organizations worldwide in celebrating progress in education and literacy.

The Ministry of Education highlighted Kuwait’s pioneering achievements, placing it among the leading Gulf and Arab states in literacy efforts. Since 1957, literacy and adult education centers have been opened across the country, alongside laws and policies supporting compulsory and free education.

Law No. 11 of 1965 made education mandatory and free for all Kuwaiti children from elementary to intermediate stages. The state committed to providing school buildings, books, teachers, and resources to ensure success. Spending on education remains one of the highest globally, with allocations reaching 12.6 percent of the national budget for 2023/2024.

Illiteracy rates in Kuwait have dropped significantly, reaching 0.14 percent among men and 2 percent among women in 2024. Efforts to eradicate illiteracy developed in three phases: initial programs from 1950 to 1957 targeting employees in schools, hospitals, and security institutions; the expansion of literacy centers between 1957 and 1981, including for women; and the 1981 Literacy Law, which expanded centers to 100 across all governorates.

A ministerial decree in 1982 defined an illiterate person as anyone above 14 who had not completed the fourth grade of primary school. Programs have also included GCC citizens, certain expatriate communities, and people with special needs.

Kuwait has achieved the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education, while continuing to provide modern curricula, technology, healthcare, and nutrition in schools. These efforts align with Kuwait’s Vision 2035, emphasizing human capital development and equitable, high-quality education.

International Literacy Day, declared by UNESCO in 1966, underscores literacy as a human right and a cornerstone of sustainable development. The annual observance highlights the importance of reading and writing skills for dignity, livelihoods, and building literate societies.