Literacy rate in pakistan

Alarming rate of literacy indicates a lot need to be done to improve education in Pakistan.

1. Literacy Rate In Pakistan Asma Shaikh Sana Javed Tehmina Adil

2. “Develop a sound sense of discipline, character, initiative and a solid academic background. You must devote yourself whole-heartedly to your studies, for that is your first obligation to yourselves, your parents and to the State. You must learn to obey for only then you can learn to command.” Quaid-e- Azam addressing the students at Islamic College, 1948

3. Literacy is an important indicator of education.

4. Why literacy is our concern ? Literacy is very effective and important parameter of measuring social development of a society. Literacy is also the ground reason for many other social problems such as crime rate, political unawareness and terrorism.

5. Education in Pakistan Education in Pakistan is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Education and the provincial governments. Article 25-A of Constitution of Pakistan obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children of the age group 5 to 16 years. "The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such a manner as may be determined by law ". According to Article 37-B of the Constitution, State shall be responsible for ‘eradication of illiteracy and provision of free and compulsory education up to secondary level, within minimum possible time’. Education has become a privilege, rather than a right.

6. The Millennium Development Goals The MDGs were adopted in 2000 by governments to make global progress on poverty, education , health, hunger and the environment. The MDGs expired at the end of 2015. . The MDG targets come from the Millennium Declaration signed by 189 countries, including 147 heads of state and government in September 2000. The MDGs have officially ended in 2015, but MDGs acceleration framework will continue till 2018.

7. Pakistan has committed to all the International declaration to extend the agenda of providing the basic right of education to all of its citizens.

8. Indicators MDG TARGET % Current Status In Pakistan % Literacy Rate 88 57 Pakistan will miss each of its Millennium Development Goals In Education(MDGs)

9. Sustainable Development Goals During 25-27 September 2015, the member states of the United Nations converged in New York for the United Nations (UN) Summit on Sustainable Development and adopted the new global goals for sustainable development . The world leaders pledged their commitment to the new ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, encompassing 17 universal and transformative SD.Gs

10. Six EFA Goals to be Achieved by 2015 ECCE: Expanding early childhood care and education UPE: Universal primary education; Free and compulsory primary education for all Continuing Education: Learning and life skills programs for young and adults Literacy: 50% increase in literacy rates Gender: Eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary by 2005, and gender equality in education by 2015 Quality: Improving quality of education

11. The literacy rate in Pakistan is divided into three regions that is in cities, villages and tribal areas. There are exceptional cases where the literacy rate is very high; for example, in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi . In these cities, the literacy rate is almost 75 %. In tribal areas the literacy rate can be as low as 9%, particularly because females are not allowed to attend school.

12. Urban and Rural Literacy Rate. (Percent) Province 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total National 70 47 58 70 49 60 70 48 58 Rural 63 36 49 63 38 51 63 36 49 Urban 81 66 74 82 69 76 81 68 74 Punjab 71 52 61 71 59 63 72 54 62 Rural 65 43 53 65 45 55 66 44 55 Urban 82 71 76 82 73 77 82 73 77 Sindh 67 43 56 70 49 60 67 44 55 Rural 53 21 37 55 24 40 51 19 36 Urban 80 63 72 82 70 76 80 65 73 KPK 72 36 53 71 35 53 72 36 53 Rural 70 32 49 69 31 50 70 33 50 Urban 81 55 68 80 52 66 77 52 64 Balochistan 59 25 43 61 25 44 56 24 41 Rural 54 17 36 54 17 38 48 15 33 Urban 74 45 59 78 42 61 76 44 61

13. Urban-Rural Divide The data shows that literacy rate is higher in urban areas (76 percent) than in rural areas (51 percent).

14. In the period 2000-2004, the Pakistanis in the age group 55-64 was the literacy rate of almost 30% of persons aged 45-54 were the literacy rate of about40% of those between 25-34 were literate 50% while those aged 15-24 were literate in more than 60 % . These data show that with each generation, literacy rate in Pakistan has increased by about 10 %. English is rapidly spreading in Pakistan, with 18 million Pakistanis (11% of the population), which has command over the English language that makes it 9-ranked English speaking nation world and third largest in Asia.

15. Youth literacy Rate 2013-2016 by province and gender. Population 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total National 70% 47% 58% 70% 49% 60% 70% 48% 58% Sindh 67% 43% 56% 70% 49% 60% 67% 44% 55% Punjab 71% 52% 61% 71% 55% 63% 72% 54% 62% KPK 72% 36% 53% 71% 35% 53% 72% 36% 53% Balochistan 59% 25% 43% 61% 25% 44% 56% 24% 41%

16. Province wise data suggests that Punjab leads with 63 percent followed by Sindh with 60 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 53 percent and Baluchistan with 44 percent.

17. Pakistan's literacy rate from 1952 to 2014 in percentages

18. Historical literacy rates in Pakistan . In 1950, the rate was 16.40% and it was 16.30% in 1961. It increased in 1972, with a total rate of 21.70%, including urban and rural areas. It was 26.30% in 1981, with urban areas 47.10% and rural areas 17.30%. In 1998, the total was 43.90%, with rates of urban and rural areas of 63.08% and 33.64%. In 2004 and 2009, it was 54% and 57%, including urban and rural areas, and in 2012, it was 57%, the same as in 2014.

19. Province-wise literacy rate of Pakistan

20. Youth Literacy Rate in Comparison to Neighbouring C ountries Pakistan's youth literacy rate is 71%, India's youth literacy rate is 90.20%, the youth literacy rate of Bangladesh is 68%. In Nepal, the youth literacy rate is 61 %. The youth literacy rate of Bhutan is 74 %. Lagging behind neighbours.

21. Reasons for Low Literacy Rate Poverty : Economic causes are greatly affecting the literacy rate of Pakistan. Pakistanis a developing country where 38% people are living beneath the poverty line . Lack of awareness Gender discrimination: Pakistan has large proportion of female population which remains uneducated and thus has a serious impact on overall view of country’s literacy profile. Government’s mismanagement: Pakistan counts among those 12 countries of the world which spend less than 2.4pc of the GDP on education. There are thousands of “Ghost schools” which only exist on paper and the local bureaucrats pocket its budgets

22. Population Growth: The population explosion is one reason we are not enable to catch the targets . Feudal Lords: The feudal system is a big obstacle in the way of universal literacy.

23. The Road blocks 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(Non-Formal Basic Education) 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 /Lack of continuity of experience/independent research and evaluation studies.

24. Social stability jeopardized… A cursory look at recent history reveals that a bourgeoning population unequipped for the job market is the surest recipe for social upheaval. An illiterate population is by definition unequipped for the modern job market – and increasingly so. Fighting illiteracy is therefore Pakistan’s only option to ensure social stability .

25. RAISING THE LITERACY RATE Countries have succeeded in raising their literacy rates by taking the following steps: Universalization of primary education. Providing non-formal primary education facilities for out of school youth and dropouts. Launching countrywide programs for adults backed by political leadership. Broad involvement of various social groups, institutions, public and voluntary organizations etc.

26. NFBE ( Non-Formal Basic Education) NFBE – targets those unfortunate children and youth who have either no access to formal primary schools, or have missed the chance to enroll at the appropriate time. NFBE Centers cater to the learning needs of out of school children and youth through cost effective and flexible approaches . Instead of waiting for establishment of a formal primary school and construction of a proper building , classes are organized in a place provided by the local community, and a locally available educated person is assigned the responsibility of teaching. Curriculum is equivalent to primary level and those who complete the course are mainstreamed or allowed to enroll at Elementary or Middle level. In fact, it is an alternate form of schooling, and offers a second chance to those who missed to enroll or dropped out earlier. In many instances learners are able to complete 5 year primary school curriculum in a reduced period of 3 years .

27. Enrollments , Teachers and Educational Institutions The total number of enrollments at national level during 2015-16 stood at 46.223 million as compared to 43.948 million during 2014-15. This shows an increase of 5.2 percent and it is estimated to increase to 47.834 million during 2016-17. The total number of institutes stood at 252.8 thousand during 2015-16 as compared to 252.6 thousand during last year. However, the number of institutes is estimated to increase to 257.1 thousand during 2016-17. The total number of teachers during 2015-16 was 1.630 million as compared to 1.588 million during last year showing an increase of 2.6 percent. This number of teachers is estimated to increase further to 1.667 million during the year 2016.

28. Literacy is a major indicator of economic development of countries where illiteracy has slowed down socio-economic growth. Recently, many nations have managed to reach a 100% literacy rate and now successfully compete in the global economy. In Pakistan, the literacy rate is far from satisfactory and compares unfavorably with many world nations. Pakistan's government should make serious efforts to improve the country's literacy rate . It is only education which can turn a burden of population into productive human resource