It Is the presentation based on Low literacy and Pakistan's Initiatives to improve ratio of low Literacy..

1. Presented by:
Mahreen Ahsan

2. Literacy
 Literacy is typically described as the ability to read
and write and UNESCO considers literacy as the
“ability to identify, understand, interpret, create,
communicate, compute and use printed and written
materials associated with varying contexts”. Pakistan
defines literacy as the acquisition of basic skills of
reading and writing.

3. Pakistan Social and Living Standards
Measurement (PSLM)- Survey 2013-14
 In 2013-14, the literacy rate
of the population (10 years
and above) is 58% as
compared to 60% in 2012-
13 showing a decline of
2.0%.
 The data also shows that
literacy remains :
 higher in urban areas 74%
 rural areas 49%, and
 more prevalent for men
81.0 % compared to women
66.0% in urban areas.
Province wise data:
suggests that
 Punjab leads with 61%
followed by Sindh with
56%.
 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with
53% and Balochistan with
43%.

4. Why Literacy is Important?
 A Human Right: Literacy is a basic human right (Atricle 26 of
Universal Declaration of Human Rights -1948)
 A basis for learning: Literacy is a foundation for all further learning
 Society Benefit: individual and social benefits, reduces conservatism
and intolerance, connects individuals to the global trends and thinking

5. Six Goals of Dakar - EFA
 1. ECCE - Early Childhood care
and education.
 2. UPE - Free and compulsory
basic education .
 3. Learning opportunities for
Young & Adults.
 4. Literacy Rate (50%
improvement).
 5. Gender equality - elimination
of gender disparities.
 6. Quality of education -
Learning achievement.

6.  The figures are
alarming as under the
United Nation’s
MDGs, Pakistan was
required to increase its
literacy rate to 88% by
2015.

7. National Commitments
International Commitments

8. National
Commitments
Under National Education Policy
(2009), Pakistan pledges to raise
budgetary allocations for education to 7%
of the GDP, and achieve 86% literacy by
2015.
NFBE (Non-Formal
Basic Education).

9. International Commitments
 EFA : Pakistan is signatory to EFA and MDGs - Literacy is one
of the six Goals of EFA
 Target: 88% literacy to be achieved by 2015 (National Plan of
Action for EFA - Ministry of Education, 2003)
 UN Literacy Decade (2003-2012): Pakistan reflected achievement
of UNLD goals in its PRSP-1
 LIFE : Pakistan has agreed to launch Literacy Initiative for
Empowerment (LIFE) in 2005.
 PRSP : EFA and Literacy are part of Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper (PRSP II)

12. Conditions of Literacy Programs in Pakistan
1. Commitment gap: Lack of Political Will – funds were sanctioned but
politicians could not provide leadership – politicization of literacy
projects
2. Policy Gap: A clear and strong policy on Literacy and NFBE has been
missing: Lack of administrative will – open and disguised opposition to
Literacy & NFBE by the traditional planners.
3. Organizational Gap: Absence of permanent organizational structure
– led to coordination gap
4. Financial Resources Gap: limited financial assistance, and
uncertainty about funding
5. Technical Capacity Gap: weak professional base /continuity of
experience/independent research and evaluation studies

13. LIFE: UNESCO support for Literacy
 LIFE (Literacy Initiative for Empowerment)
launched by UNESCO in 36 countries- with
literacy rate below 50% or illiterate population
above 10 million
 Country Action Plan for Literacy: Pakistan has
committed for LIFE - including launching of a
national literacy programme
 Technical Assistance: UNESCO is providing
support to Pakistan for formulation of a policy on
literacy and capacity development

14. References:
 http://www.ilmkidunya.com/articles/reasons-for-pakistan-s-
low-literacy-rate-719.aspx#sthash.1rdzsrHs.dpuf.
 Why Pakistan need literacy movement. UNESCO March 2012.