Luanda - The United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) estimates at 800 million the number of illiterates worldwide, according to statistics issued Wednesday  by the organisation's office in Angola.

In a prees note released on the International Literacy Day (September 8), the UNESCO's office in Luanda states that the Angolan Government has set the integrated strategy for the improvement of the education system by 2015.

According to the Angolan deputy minister for general education and social action, Ana Paula Inês, "a literate woman is the guarantee of stability in a society,  remedy for people's development".  

The deputy minister considered a literate woman as the one who delelops the world, which begins inside her own family, adding that a literate woman is in a better position to enter working life in her country.

 
The national director for general education, Luisa Grilo, recalled that the Angolan Government has widened  the access to education for youngsters and adults between 12 and 15 years of age in order for them to recover their citizenship and self-esteem. 

She considered UNESCO, Unicef and the civil society important partners in the process of adult education, namely literacy, as it is a programme with special characteristics.