Adult illiteracy continues to be a major problem in many countries in the world. Statistics from the 2010 World Report on Education for All reveal that 880 million adults in the world are illiterates.

According to the report, women make up two thirds of this number and majority live in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, in spite of efforts by government, statistics reveal that 30 per cent of youths and adults are still illiterates including 60 percent of women and almost 11 per cent of children between 6-14 years. It is in this light that a three-day regional workshop on the drafting of literacy programmes for income-generating activities for of women opened in Yaounde yesterday September 25, 2012.

Speaking during the occasion, the Representative for UNESCO, Mariama Niang and the Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family, Marie Therese Abena Ondoa, reiterated that the disparity in male and female literacy is a major problem in society because it aggravates poverty, dependence, social exclusion and limits access to reproductive health.

On her part, the Minister of Basic Education who doubles as the President of the National Commission for UNESCO, Youssouf Hadidja Alim, said the workshop was timely as it is in line with the government's literacy policy. She called on the participants to work hand in glove in order to come out with proposals which will contribute in making literacy a major tool for the social promotion of women and girls and the fight against poverty.

The objective of the workshop is to strengthen the capacities of women in the domain of literacy and help member countries in the drafting and putting in place of literacy programmes for income-generating activities for women and young girls.

Organised by the Islamic Organisation for Science Education and Culture, ISESCO and the Centre for Economic Statistics and Social Research, SESRIC, in collaboration with the National Commission for UNESCO, the workshop brings together some 20 participants from 10 African countries.