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Ladies and gentelman, we are pleased to provide you with the report of the following round table :
The Mechanisms to Urge Illiterates to Participate in the Upcoming Elections
Friday, June, 20th 2014 at Golden Tulip Tunis
The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy on Friday, 20th June 2014 organized a roundtable to discuss "The Mechanisms to Urge Illiterates to Participate in the Upcoming Elections." Representatives of NGOs that serves the literacy cause, representatives of the central administration of adult education together with teachers and students enrolled in the illiterate education programs were present and actively contributed to the discussion. Dr. Kamal Gharbi, head of Ofiya coalition, delivered the welcoming speech. He argued that the participation rate of illiterates in the previous elections was seriously below-expected one. Thus, it has become of vital and critical importance to increase the rate of illiterates' participation in the upcoming elections.
On defining illiteracy, the participants agreed that illiteracy is not restricted to the elderly, and that, fortunately, according to the Institute of Statistics, the illiteracy rate in Tunisia decreased from 27% in 2004 to 18.1% in 2012. After having an overview on the situation of illiterates in Tunisia, the discussion shifted to tackle the reluctance of illiterate people to participate in the elections. It has become difficult to convince illiterate adults to enroll in illiteracy programs. It is what pushed a number of illiterates to choose random candidates to represent them in 2011 elections.
Some of the participants blamed the political parties for their lack of interest to target this specific group and encourage them to take part in the upcoming elections whereas the rest of the audience claimed that the illiterates' arbitrary selection in the 20011 elections stems from the ballot's difficult design and language. Besides, the rise of extremist fatwa calling for election boycott is another factor that persuaded the illiterate to avoid the 2011 elections.
Furthermore, the absence of a serious political will to curb illiteracy rates coupled with the media's constant distortion of the revolution, made illiterates grow unaware of the value of their voices. A member of the audience also mentioned that some of elitist groups, to serve their political agenda, urged illiterates not to vote.
Recommendations
- Organize simulations for the elections held by the Central Administration for Adult Education
- Use developed equipment because illiterates are capable of learning
- Organize seminars to make illiterates recognize the importance of elections
- Increase the awareness campaigns particularly in the marginalized areas
- Train the teachers in the Department of Adult Education to articulate to their students the importance of elections
- Organize group meetings between teachers and students to go and register for the elections
- Spread the information in public spaces
- Communicate the message in national, regional, and local radios
- Provide the needed transportation for the illiterate
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