<P> Mali has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, at 33.4%, with males having a 43.1% literacy rate and females having a 24.6% literacy rate . The government defines literacy as anyone who is at least 15 and over who can read or write . The government of Mali and international organizations in recent years has taken steps to improve the literacy rate . The government recognized the slow progress in literacy rates and began created ministries for basic education and literacy for their national languages in 2007 . To also improve literacy the government planned to increase its education budget by 3%, when this was purposed it was at 35% in 2007 . The lack of literate adults causes the programs to be slowed . The programs need qualified female trainers is a major problem because most men refuse to send female family members to be trained under male teachers . </P> <P> Free education in Mauritius didn't proceed beyond the primary level until 1976, so many women now in their 50s or older left school at age 12 . The younger generation (below 50) are however extremely well educated with very high educational expectations placed upon pupils . Education is today free from pre-primary to tertiary (only admission fees remain at University level). Most professional people have at least a bachelor's degree . Mauritian students consistently rank top in the world each year for the Cambridge International O Level, International A and AS level examinations . Most Mauritian children, even at primary level, attend tuition after school and at weekends to cope with the highly competitive public school system where admission to prestigious public colleges (secondary) and most sought after university courses depend on merit based academic performance . </P> <P> The adult literacy rate was estimated at 89.8% in 2011 . Male literacy was 92.3% and Female literacy 87.3% . </P> <P> Niger has an extremely low literacy rate at 28.7% . However, the gender gap between males and females is a major problem for the country, men have a literacy rate of 42.9% and women a literacy rate of 15.1% . The Nigerien government defines literacy as anyone who can read or write over the age of 15 . The Niass Tijaniyya, a predominate group of the Sufi brotherhoods, has started anti-poverty, empowerment, and literacy campaigns . The women in Kiota had not attempted to improve their education, or economic standing . Saida Oumul Khadiri Niass, known as Maman, through talking to men and women throughout the community changed the community's beliefs on appropriate behavior for women because the community recognized she was married to a leader of the Niass Tijaniyya . Maman's efforts has allowed women in Kiota to own small businesses, sell in the market place, attend literacy classes, and organize small associations that can give micro loans . Maman personally teaches children in and around Kiota, with special attention to girls . Maman has her students require instructor permission to allow the girls' parents to marry their daughters early . This increases the amount of education these girls receive, as well as delaying marriage, pregnancy, and having children . </P>

Explain why the literacy rate was higher in new england than in other regions