Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) and Pakistan:

Challenges and Strategic Needs

Dr. Maurice RobsonUNESCO Representative

National Consultative Workshop on Literacy17 February 2009, Islamabad

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

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.

EFA and MDGs

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Target 3: Completion of full primary schooling by all children Indicator No 8: Literacy rate of 15-24 year old

Goal 3Goal 3.. Promote gender equality and empower women

Target 4: eliminate gender disparityIndicator 10: Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old

1. ECCE: Expanding early childhood care and education

2. UPE: Universal primary education

3. Continuing Education: Learning and life skills programmes for young and adults

4. Literacy: 50% increase in adult literacy rates

5. Gender: Eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary by 2005, and gender equality in education by 2015

6. Quality: Improving quality of education

MDGs – by 2015EFA Goals – by 2015

LITERACY IS AT THE CORE

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 (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)

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)

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)

Report Card: Literacy in PakistanPSLM (2006-07) – Statistics Division, GoPOverall, 45% population (10+) is illiterate, and58% Women can not read and write70% Rural women are illiterate76% Rural women in NWFP are illiterate84% Rural women in Sindh can not read and write85% Rural women in Balochistan are illiterateDisparities: 80% literacy among males in urban Sindh vs 15% literacy among females in rural Balochistan PSLM (2005-06)32 districts with literacy rate below 40%56 districts with more than 70% illiterate women

Provincial Comparison of Rural Female Literacy(PSLM Survey 2006-07)

Punjab Sindh

NWFP Balochistan

ILLITERATES, 62

LITERATES, 38

LITERATESILLITERATES LITERATES,

16

ILLITERATES, 82

LITERATESILLITERATES

LITERATES, 24

ILLITERATES, 76

LITERATESILLITERATES LITERATES,

15

ILLITERATES, 85

LITERATESILLITERATES

Number of Illiterates are increasing in Pakistan

Year Pop 10 +(Millions)

Literacy Rate (10+)

Illiterate Pop (10+)-Million

1951 22.71 17.9 18.641961 26.12 16.7 22.081972 42.91 21.7 33.591981 56.33 26.2 42.691998 89.84 43.92 50.38

2006-07(estimated)

112.00 55.00 50.40

(Source: Census Reports and projections for 2006-07)

Asian Map of Literacy

Human Development in South and West Asia (Source: Human Development Report 2007-08, 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

Dakar Goal Achievement – EDIEducation 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

Education Budget in Pakistan: (1995-96 to 2008-09)(Source: Economic Survey (2002-2003) – Finance Division – Government of Pakistan, Page 167, Table 11.5 and Economic Survey of

Pakistan 2005-06, and EFA Global Monitoring Report 2008, 2009, and other related documents of Govt. of Pakistan)

Year % of GDP Year % of GDP

1995-96 2.00 2002-03 1.7

1996-97 2.62 2003-04 2.20

1997-98 2.34 2004-05 2.12

1998-99 2.40 2005-06 2.40

1999-00 1.7 2006-07 2.42

2000-01 1.6 2007-08 2.49

2001-02 1.9 2008-09(PRSP II, page 316))

1.25

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

An analysis of Literacy Programmes 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: ‘islands of excellence’ but weak professional base /continuity of experience/independent research and evaluation studies

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.

Focussed Approach Priority:

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

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

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 (2009-10): 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

What is missing?

A consistent policyand

Leadership

For this workshop …to succeed in formulating a clear strategy and mobilizing of strong leadership

for Literacy