Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) and Pakistan : Challenges and Strategic Needs

1. 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 15-24 year old Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women Target 4: eliminate gender disparity Indicator 10: Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 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 (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)

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 (2006-07) – 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 (2005-06) 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 (Source: Census Reports and projections for 2006-07)

11. Asian Map of Literacy

12. Human Development in South and West Asia (Source: Human Development Report 2007-08, and UNESCO EFA Global Monitoring Report 2009)

13. Dakar Goal Achievement – EDI Education For All Development Index (EDI) for 129 countries- GMR 2009

14. 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)

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: • 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 (2009-10): Literacy and NFBEas 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. 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