Saudi Arabia’s illiteracy rates have dropped by 61 per cent during the past nine years, said a report.

The kingdom has achieved the goal stated in the Dakar Forum, which took place in Senegal in 2000, in which the participants had pledged to reduce the rate by 50 per cent, said the Arab News report quoting the Ministry of Education.

The illiteracy rate declined in the kingdom at an average of about seven per cent, with 2005 and 2006 showing decline of just under 18 per cent, said the report.

The target was achieved through policies pursued by the ministry to eradicate illiteracy in the kingdom, it added.