1. National Consultative Workshop on Literacy
Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE)
and Pakistan: Challenges and Strategic Needs
Dr. Maurice Robson
UNESCO Representative
National Consultative Workshop on Literacy
17 February 2009, Islamabad

2. Purpose and Outline Purpose:
To build consensus amongst decision makers on the urgent need for a well-organized, nation wide, movement for the eradication of illiteracy in Pakistan
Outline:
National and international commitments for literacy
Development rationale for literacy
The report card for Pakistan
Institutionalization of literacy efforts: Challenges and issues
Proposed strategic actions

3. 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.

4. EFA and MDGs EFA Goals – by 2015 MDGs – by 2015
ECCE: Expanding early childhood care and education
UPE: Universal primary education
Continuing Education: Learning and life skills programmes for young and adults
Literacy: 50% increase in adult literacy rates
Gender: Eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary by 2005, and gender equality in education by 2015
Quality: Improving quality of education
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Target 3: Completion of full primary schooling by all children
Indicator No 8: Literacy rate of year old
Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women
Target 4: eliminate gender disparity
Indicator 10: Ratio of literate women to men, years old
LITERACY IS AT THE CORE

5. International Commitments
EFA : Pakistan is signatory to EFA and MDGs - Literacy is one of the six Goals of EFA
Target: 86% literacy to be achieved by 2015 (National Plan of Action for EFA - Ministry of Education, 2003)
UN Literacy Decade ( ): 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)

6. National Commitments of Pakistan
Constitution of Pakistan (1973)
State shall be responsible for:
“ eradication of illiteracy and provision of free and compulsory education up to secondary level, within minimum possible time”
(Article 37-B, 1973 Constitution of Pakistan)

7. Why Literacy?
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
A public ‘good’: individual and social benefits, reduces conservatism and intolerance, connects individuals to the global trends and thinking
A key part of Poverty Reduction strategy : an important indicator of Human Development Index (HDI)

8. Report Card: Literacy in Pakistan
PSLM ( ) – Statistics Division, GoP
Overall, 45% population (10+) is illiterate, and
58% Women can not read and write
70% Rural women are illiterate
76% Rural women in NWFP are illiterate
84% Rural women in Sindh can not read and write
85% Rural women in Balochistan are illiterate
Disparities:
80% literacy among males in urban Sindh vs 15% literacy among females in rural Balochistan
PSLM ( )
32 districts with literacy rate below 40%
56 districts with more than 70% illiterate women

9. Provincial Comparison of Rural Female Literacy (PSLM Survey 2006-07)
Punjab
Sindh
NWFP
Balochistan

10. Number of Illiterates are increasing in Pakistan
Year
Pop 10 +
(Millions)
Literacy Rate (10+)
Illiterate Pop (10+)-Million
1951
22.71
17.9
18.64
1961
26.12
16.7
22.08
1972
42.91
21.7
33.59
1981
56.33
26.2
42.69
1998
89.84
43.92
50.38
(estimated)
112.00
55.00
50.40
(Source: Census Reports and projections for )

11. Asian Map of Literacy

12. Public expenditure on Education
Human Development in South and West Asia (Source: Human Development Report , and UNESCO EFA Global Monitoring Report 2009)
Country
HDI Ranking
Public expenditure on Education
as % of GNP
Literacy Rate
15+ (%)
India
128
3.3 65
Iran 94
5.2 84
Pakistan
136
2.7 54
Sri Lanka 99
5.4 91
Maldives
100
8.3 97
Nepal
142
3.2 55
Bangladesh
140
2.8 52

13. Dakar Goal Achievement – EDI
Education For All Development Index (EDI) for 129 countries- GMR 2009
S. No.
Achievement Level
No. of Countries
(world position)
South and West Asian countries 1.
Far from EFA Goals 29
5 Countries including, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan 3.
Intermediate position 44
Maldives 2.
Closer to EFA Goals 56

14. Education Budget in Pakistan: ( to ) (Source: Economic Survey ( ) – Finance Division – Government of Pakistan, Page 167, Table 11.5 and Economic Survey of Pakistan , and EFA Global Monitoring Report 2008, 2009, and other related documents of Govt. of Pakistan)
Year
% of GDP
2.00
1.7
2.62
2.20
2.34
2.12
2.40
2.42
1.6
2.49
1.9
(PRSP II, page 316))
1.25

15. Pre-conditions for Success of Adult Literacy Programmes
Vision:
Literacy programmes based on an agenda of social change including functional literacy/income generation skills – learners can not be attracted just for alphabets-” Literacy for a cause”
Including post-literacy and continuing education: beyond basic literacy- mainstreaming neo-literates and NFBE pass outs with formal education - continuing education
Leadership: literacy movement demands leadership, not merely the funds
Organizational structure: expertise for training, material development, research & evaluation
Consistent policy and approach

16. An analysis of Literacy Programmes in Pakistan
Commitment gap: Lack of Political Will – funds were sanctioned but politicians could not provide leadership – politicization of literacy projects
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.
Organizational Gap: Absence of permanent organizational structure – led to coordination gap
Financial Resources Gap: limited financial assistance, and uncertainty about funding
Technical Capacity Gap: ‘islands of excellence’ but weak professional base /continuity of experience/independent research and evaluation studies

17. A Strategy for Pakistan
A vision: a national framework developed: consistent policy on adult literacy (Legislation, Parliament Resolution, strengthening provisions for Adult Literacy and NFBE in new National Education Policy)
A commitment: political leadership - Ministers, Parliamentarians, and political parties support and lead literacy programmes at various levels
Partnerships: joint Federal and Provincial agreements/ coordination/monitoring structures and processes
Guaranteed Financial Resources: Consistent flow of financial resources – x % of education budget (?) – matching grants to provinces
Clear Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly spelling out role and responsibilities of Federal Govt., Provincial Govts., and District Govts.
A strong Professional base: An Institute or Resource Centre for technical tasks like training, material development, research etc.

18. Focussed Approach Priority: Modalities: Out of School Youth (10-25)
Female Literacy programmes
Modalities:
NFBE: Non-formal Basic Education Centers for 6-15 years out of school children and youth
Post Literacy: Making literacy meaningful, post literacy phase to be added, mobile libraries, reading rooms etc.
ECE: Linking female literacy or Mother’s Literacy with Early Childhood Education

19. 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

20. A basis for success! Rich experience! Not from zero!
A National Literacy Curriculum (2007), approved and launched by the Ministry of Education
Literacy materials: Literacy primers and post literacy readers produced by NCHD, Institute of Mass Education (AIOU), MoE, UNESCO, and NGOs
Trained human resources available with NCHD, National Education Foundation, provincial Directorates of Literacy and NFE, and NGOs
A Joint UN Programme in Education ( ): Literacy and NFBE as part of the 2-year programme of cooperation agreed between UN and Govt. of Pakistan
Policy comment through legislation a must for sustainability and institutionalization of literacy programmes

21. A consistent policy and Leadership
What is missing?
A consistent policy
and
Leadership
For this workshop …to succeed in formulating a clear strategy and mobilizing of strong leadership for Literacy

22. Thank you