KABUL (SW) – The deputy minister for education, Sardar Mohammad Rahimi, said today a large chunk of the Afghan society is illiterate, and media needs to play its due role in improving it.
He said this during a moot marking the International Literacy Day here on Monday. Commenting on the role of media, the deputy minister said technical aspects of this industry have improved, but there still remain shortcomings in terms of editorial policy especially regarding national interests. He charged, some media organizations are receiving dictation from outside.
Meanwhile, Naveed Mohammadi, program director at Nai – Supporting Open Media organization, said in this regard that the media sector has played key role in informing and educating the masses in the past 15 years. He lamented that the Ministry of Education has barred officials, except directors, in all 34 provinces from talking to media.
He pronounced it a clear violation of the Constitution and the Right to Access Information Act.
However, the deputy minister said he was not aware of any such directives, but stressed only responsible officials shall talk to media.
The MoPH vowed to lift the literacy level by 10 per cent in the coming ten years.
ENDS
