La Paz, June 17 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Bolivia's illiteracy level has fallen to 3.12 percent of the population, the lowest the country has ever seen, according to Education Minister Roberto Aguilar. The Bolivian education minister said that this is a major achievement for the country whose illiteracy rate was nearly 13 percent less than 10 years ago.

Aguilar said: “Out of 100 people, three are illiterate, and of these three, two are over 65.” However, the education minister regretted that illiteracy rates are highest among women, with more women than men unable to read or write.

Aguilar attributed Bolivia's educational success to the social policies of President Evo Morales – who has been in office since 2006 – and his creation of a Plurinational State, which granted more power to the various cultures and ethnicities within the country.

Bolivia was declared officially illiteracy free in 2008 when it recorded that only 3.8 percent of its population was unable to read or write. Since 2008, that number has been getting progressively lower.

According to UNESCO, countries are deemed free of illiteracy when the rate is less than four percent.