Nationwide literacy campaign vital - UNESCO

Pakistan needs to launch a robust national social movement in order to achieve the Education For All (EFA) target of 86 percent adult literacy by 2015, according to an official of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). "This is an immense task but it is feasible if we work in a focused way. The social sector, especially education, has not received in the past the necessary attention it deserved. Now it's time to accelerate efforts for the promotion of literacy [and to put them] on a war footing," Jorge Sequeira, UNESCO representative to Pakistan, told IRIN in the capital, Islamabad. The overall adult literacy rate in Pakistan is currently estimated at 54 percent. The total number of illiterate people in the country has more than doubled in absolute numbers over the past half-century, according to a UNESCO report. In 1951, there were nearly 22 millin who couldn't read in Pakistan, while the 1998 census results showed that the illiterate population has risen to 48 million. "Pakistan represents immense challenges in education but the opportunities are also huge," Sequeira said, stressing, "We have to run nationwide literacy campaigns involving partnerships with religious groups, international and national agencies, and governments at district and provincial levels, as well as parliamentarians. Only then will we be able to achieve the targets." Sequeira added: "Literacy is certainly an issue. How to achieve literacy? I'd say 'partnership' is the key word for that, because the government alone can never chase high literacy standards, nor the UN system alone, nor any particular NGO. We have to work altogether and that means the media, civil society NGOs - both national and international - and other stakeholders." Educational experts have commended the recent initiatives of the government for the provision of free textbooks, the abolition of school fees up to the 10th grade and the allowance for girls in underdeveloped districts. The UN children's agency UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday jointly announced a four-year programme worth about US $27 million to accelerate girls' enrolment in 1,068 primary schools in nine districts of the country. Under the programme, the WFP will provide edible oil as an incentive to attract girls to schools, while UNICEF will support teacher training and provide basic teaching and learning materials to improve the quality of education. The joint efforts are expected to result in the enrolment, retention and completion of about 175,000 additional girls, with benefits extended to an estimated 250,000 girls currently attending primary schools, according to a UNICEF press statement. Pakistan's primary school dropout rate is the highest in the world, at almost 50 percent, according to UNESCO. Over Pakistan's 57-year history, the practice of missing well marked deadlines under various educational programmes has created a credibility gap, according to a UNESCO report. However, the UNESCO official noted, "Pakistan has made progress in certain areas in recent years. There is positive change in the overall structure - developments in legislation, in devolution and decentralisation. Economic indicators are also positive. So we are convinced that Pakistan government is now committed to combating illiteracy." "Political will, especially at the district level, is crucial for adult literacy. Funding constraints, lack of awareness, absence of interdepartmental coordination and proper evaluation and monitoring of ongoing programmes are other main areas to be addressed to check the low literacy level," Muhammad Salim, programme coordinator for EFA at the Education Ministry, told IRIN in Islamabad.