The Ministry of Social Development and Family, represented by the Department of Community Development, held a forum entitled The Role of Education in Building Society. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education joins the celebration of International Literacy Day, which falls on the eighth of September every year after the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) in 1966 to highlight the importance of literacy for individuals and communities.

The Education Above All Foundation and UNESCO are participating in this forum, along with the two ministries. The forum sheds light on reducing the phenomenon of illiteracy and raising community awareness of the importance of education and how it is an opportunity for the concerned parties to participate.

The State of Qatar has contributed to many educational centers to eradicate illiteracy, which aims to teach reading and writing to elderly. Its efforts have continued at the level of the Arab world and the world, perhaps the most prominent of which is the “Educate a Child” initiative. Education Above All Foundation aims to reduce the number of children deprived of their rights to education. Qatar also participated in many international conferences.

The Ministry of Social Development is keen to encourage education and combat illiteracy because education and knowledge contribute to achieving community development, which increases economic opportunities for citizens and contributes to improving family income and meeting their needs.

It also contributes to enhancing parents’ knowledge of parental care requirements and understanding health and care guidelines for the health of mothers, children, elderly, and people with disabilities. Fighting against literacy enables families to deal with them in sound scientific ways, raises the level of family culture, increases the possibility of addressing family challenges, and reduces domestic violence.

Mr. Ghanem Mubarak Al Kuwari, Assistant Undersecretary for Social Development Affairs, said that the Ministry implements national strategies related to caring for the family and its members, especially elderly, and pays great attention to this group and seeks to empower them, overcome all difficulties facing them, and provide them with opportunities in education and life.

Mrs. Hadeel Al-Ajeel, Acting Director of the Community Development Department, stated the importance of highlighting this event annually, through which all concerned parties review their efforts and highlight the supportive projects and programs they provide to eradicate illiteracy.

Mrs. Al-Ajeel added that Qatar has achieved greatly in eradicating illiteracy and providing all facilities for adult education to combat illiteracy and eliminate its negative effects. She pointed out that the Ministry plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of life of individuals at risk of illiteracy while directing efforts and resources.