‘57m illiterate, 24m out of school children a big challenge’

Islamabad: Eradication of illiteracy in the shape of adult education and curbing the dropouts from schools is top priority of PML-N government, as 57 million illiterates and 24 million out of school children are big challenge for us for which each and every citizen should strive and participate.

This was observed by Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman while inaugurating a non-formal school established by National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) by the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), at Sarai Kharbooza in Islamabad Capital Territory on Friday.

The minister, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the government was committed to make Islamabad 100% literate and will set up 50 schools in ICT in this connection.

While appreciating the role of NCHD and JICA, he said the government efforts that efforts in the non-formal education covers the curriculum development, education material development and inter provincial consultation so that role of literacy is brought to the level of developed countries.

He said NCHD project of Deeni Madaris is also very important and highly successfulThe minister emphasised that the dream of a developed country is only possible through education, skill development and the knowledge of value addition to the products.

“We will establish more literacy centres for women where skills will be imparted with basic education,” he said.Chairperson of NCHD and former Senator Razina Alam Khan said healthy and ideal conflict free society is possible only by achieving 100% literacy rate.

She said unfortunately previous government did not give importance to the education that is why our literacy rate is lowest in the region what to talk of the world.The NCHD chairperson said public sector and international donors are jointly working to eradicate illiteracy for the country and we foresee better future of our generations.

She said NCHD had launched this initiative with the aim to materialise collaborative efforts of the partners in strengthening non-formal education systems at national level through non-formal education policy, non-formal education management information system and quality aspects that comprises curriculum, learning materials, and assessment and accreditation systems along with operationalising the inter-provincial coordination forum for non-formal education.

“The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Academy of Education Planning and Management and Japan International Cooperation Agency –Advancing Quality Alternative Learning Project are all partners in this project. Our aim is to enhance literacy rate of Islamabad from 88% to 100% this non-formal school at Sarai Kharbooza is a step towards that direction,” she said.

Razina Alam Khan informed that NCHD had made 3.4 million people literate through its 164,190 adult literacy centres and non-formal schools which include 90% women. She said our focus is to help & empower the down trodden segment of the society through education, skill development and awareness.Representative of JICA Yasuhiro Tojo said Japan was cooperating with Pakistan in the field of education, energy and livestock.