Almost 59% of Pakistanis are still illiterate

Friday, May 12, 2006

Almost 59% of Pakistanis are still illiterate’

By Irfan Ghauri

ISLAMABAD: The government’s claims that the Education Sector Reforms Programme (ESRP) has improved the literacy situation in the country have been negated by a report, prepared by the Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education, Daily Times learnt.

In 2001, the government finalised the Education Sector Reforms (ESR) Action Plan 2002-2006 under the ESRP. The plan aimed at increasing the overall literacy rate from 49 percent in 2000-01 to 60 percent by 2005-06; the primary school enrolment rate from 66 to 76 percent; middle school enrolment rate from 47.5 to 55 percent; the secondary school enrolment from 29.5 to 40 percent and higher education enrolment from 2.6 to 5 percent. The report, however, ranks Pakistan last among the 14 developing countries in the Asia Pacific in terms of educational improvement. “Two out of every three Pakistani adults are illiterate; 45.3 percent people have no access to early childhood care and education; 40.3 percent have no access to primary schools and 76.1 percent to secondary school” said the report.

Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education is a network of 200 organizations and individuals involved in formal and non-formal adult education and is partner in the Global Campaign for Education. The report also covers improvements in the education sector in 2005. It shows that 58.9 percent of the Pakistani population is still illiterate. The report said that Pakistan’s primary school teachers are overworked and under- trained as there is only one teacher for 51 students at an average. To substantiate the report, a Education Ministry official said, “We badly missed all targets set under the ESR plan. It is unlikely that we could meet the targets.”