Democracy and Illiteracy Do Not Move Together
Main Outline
A- Introduction
B- Basic Tenets of Democracy
C- Facts which prove that democracy and illiteracy cannot move together
- Illierate population cannot choose visionary and capable leaders
- Illiterate populace cannot hold leaders accountable for their failure to perform
- Illiteracy entrenches feudal norms and suppresses liberties
- Illiterate population provides a fertile ground for dictatorship
- Illiteracy blurs awareness of fundamental rights leading to poor governance
- Illiterate population cannot make rulers adopt people friendly policies
- Illiterate masses do not demand transparency in Govt affairs
- Illiteracy maintains gender gap, resulting in inequality and inequity
- Illiteracy promotes extremism resulting in dangerous atmosphere for minorities
- Illiterate masses fail to appreciate their right to organise and protest in response to oppressive Govt policies.
- Illiterate masses cannot harness the power of social media to raise important issues
- E-governance is the future but it thrives only in an educated society
D- Causes of the prevalence of illiteracy
- Persistent want of Political will
- Inadequate budgetary allocations
- Regressive cultural norms
- The ghost of Gender inequality
- Persistently prevailing poverty
E- Recommendations for proliferation of literacy leading to stronger democracy
- Enhacement of GDP spending on Education
- Devising of scrupulously designed and thoroughly implemented educational policies
- Prioritization of Education as the most pressing challenge
- Encouragement of women participation and removal of peculiar barriers to girls education
- Convincing of poor parents to send their children to school by offering financial incentives
- Initiation of Public Private partnership for increasing the number of schools and colleges
- Provision of free transportation to students of rural and distant areas
- Constructive role of media and civil society
F- Conclusion