Remember ME - You Me and Dementia

September 5, 2008

SOUTH AFRICA: Over 6,000 senior citizens to graduate in Literacy Programme

. CAPE TOWN, South Africa (BuaNews), September 5, 2008: By Nthambeleni Gabara ULUNDI - More than 6 000 senior citizens from KwaZulu-Natal, including a 105-year-old grandmother, will graduate in the provincial Masifundisane Adult Literacy Programme on Monday. The 6,000 graduates form part of a group of 30,000 learners, from various parts of the province, who successfully completed the programme hosted from November 2007 to June 2008. According to KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele the graduates comprise mostly women, and include people living with disabilities. "Since the inception of the programme in 2006, more than 300,000 Kwazulu-Natal elderly people who were denied access to education by the previous government are now able to count, read and write," he said. The Premier is set to give a keynote address at the graduation ceremony to be held at Cecil Emmet Hall in Vryheid. In his 2005 State of the Province Address, Mr Ndebele said: "2.1 million people in KwaZulu-Natal are illiterate - they cannot read or write their own names. "Others are functionally illiterate. History would judge us harshly, if we did not do something to deal with illiteracy in a decisive manner," said Mr Ndebele at the time. Mr Mdiya, 65, of Lamontville, KwaZulu-Natal, lives with his two children and five grandchildren. His two children have other children who don’t live with them but whom they support. Five grandchildren’s parents have died. He has been receiving pension since January 2006. © 2005 Grow Up Free from Poverty The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government now says it is on track to ensure that illiteracy is eradicated in the province. The eradication of illiteracy is a central pillar in government's efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment, create a better life for all and restore the dignity of citizens. - BuaNews