press releases

U.S. First Lady Laura Bush Hosts White House Conference on Global Literacy in New York City

September 18, 2006

Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Lillian E. L. Kapulu, traveled to the United States of America to attend the launch of the White House Conference on Global Literacy, which opened in New York City on September 18.

The First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Laura Bush, hosted the event in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development. The conference took place the same time as the United Nations General Assembly meetings, and focused on literacy programs and initiatives being implemented in developing countries with high illiteracy rates. These include Mother-Child Literacy and Intergenerational Learning, Literacy for Health, and Literacy for Economic Self-Sufficiency programs.

The conference highlighted literacy programs while underscoring the need for a sustained global and country-level commitment to promote the best practices of literacy and education. It also emphasized the importance of quality education as the foundation for economic growth and the spread of freedom in the developing world.

High levels of literacy and education are fundamental to the development of democratic institutions, good governance and rule of law. They are also critical to improved health and education for the most vulnerable.

First Lady Laura Bush currently serves as an Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade. This conference builds on her personal commitment and expertise as an educator, especially her commitment to literacy for young girls and women in the developing world.

Speaking before her departure for the U.S., Mrs. Kapulu observed that the Zambian national literacy rate for 15-24 year-olds in 2003 was 70% (66% for females compared to 76% for males). She also noted that the current Zambian government policy on education was closely linked to poverty reduction, disease control and elimination of hunger.
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