Some 6,800 volunteers, mostly high school students, will assume the challenge of teaching literacy in rural and urban areas of Usulutan with the purpose of declaring that eastern department of El Salvador free of illiteracy in 2018.

This effort is part of the national campaign promoted by the Government of Salvador Sánchez Cerén to bring the knowledge of letters and numbers to as many people as possible, as part of its educational strategy aimed at ensuring inclusion and equity, and to democratize the access to knowledge.

To meet the challenge launched by the Head of State, in this department it will be necessary to teach reading and writing to 34 thousand 351 adults and young people over 15 years old, who for various reasons did not have the opportunity to learn until now.

Marcos Josué Alfaro is one of the 1,274 young literacy teachers from various educational centers in the territory who were sworn in as volunteer literacy teachers this February 28, at the National Institute of Usulután, and whose participation will be crucial in the success of this campaign.

"It's a pleasure for me to be part of this program that aims at literacy; what motivates me is to help the most marginalized people in society, those who did not have the opportunity to attend school, "he said, and urged all young people to join" this beautiful social program, "he said.

At the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Erlinda Hándal Vega, expressed the Government's trust in the Salvadoran youth, and highlighted the historical importance of this task: "The work you will do will positively mark your lives and those of you will alphabetize; helping others is a great example of solidarity, "he said.

For his part, the Deputy to the Legislative Assembly, Jorge Schafik Handal Vega, pointed out that this educational effort highlights once again the social commitment of the Government, as well as the spirit of overcoming the Salvadoran people.

An example of that willingness to learn is Rigoberto Mendoza Luna, who thanked the attention given by President Sánchez Cerén to this program since its creation in 2009, when he served as vice president and Minister of Education ad honorem.

"I want to thank the impulse of our government, which has made possible the Literacy Plan to bring forward all those who remain without learning to read and write for some reason, and all those who collaborate with this Plan, which is very important for those who have the need », said Mendoza Luna.

In the act, the director of Education for Young People and Adults of the Ministry of Education, María Angélica Paniagua, also sworn in the Departmental Literacy Commission integrated by representatives of different sectors, which will accompany all the teaching actions that are undertaken.

According to MINED statistics, in Usulután the illiteracy rate is 16.7 percent, due to the literacy of 28,764 people, mostly elderly.

In that department eight municipalities were declared free of illiteracy: California, San Dionisio, Santa Elena, San Francisco Javier, Concepción Batres, San Agustín, Tecapán and Alegría.

The government's goal is to declare El Salvador free of illiteracy in 2018, and to reach it, it is expected to mobilize 100 thousand volunteer literacy teachers.