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Thursday March 28, 2024

Literacy must for progress, says Ahsan

By our correspondents
September 08, 2016

Islamabad

To achieve development goals, considerable progress in the field of literacy has to be made because no progress and development is possible without literacy and education. The pace needs to be further accelerated otherwise the resolve of achieving 90 per cent literacy rate by the year 2025 may not be possible, what to talk about socio-economic development, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal while addressing a seminar organised by National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) in connection with the International Literacy Day.

Speaking as a chief guest, he said basic education was an essential requirement for the optimal development of human beings and harnessing their true potential.

"In the present age and time, knowledge has transformed from virtue and power to necessity. In order to become functional citizens in the present age of the global onslaught of information and knowledge of unimaginable proportion, the attainment of basic literacy is a fundamental requirement," he said.

He said the nation, which had the Holy Prophet with the miracle of education, must get rid of illiteracy and ignorance.

He said it is heartening to see that NCHD under the leadership of Senator Razina Alam Khan has planned to launch a Literacy Movement in the name of ‘Each One Teach One’. Its pilot project will be executed in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) under 100% Literate Islamabad Project, he said. NCHD will enroll volunteers from all walks of life and they will impart literacy skills among illiterate persons, he added. All the learning materials and the Teachers’ Guide will be provided by NCHD free of cost, he further added. I am sure this endeavor will remain very successful and it will be replicated to the length and breadth of Pakistan with the collaboration of provincial governments, prayer heads of mosques and local councils.

Minister of State for Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training Eng. Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman said, literacy is a fundamental human right and obligation. Article 26 A of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) recognizes free and compulsory elementary education, a right of all human beings irrespective of their age, gender, or social status, he said. A literate environment not only improves socio economic indicators in a society, it positively influences systems of governance also, he viewed. Literate citizens are motivated to actively participate in the decision making processes at all levels. This active participation of common people results into prosperity and development, he added.

He said the launch of “Each One Teach One” campaign in Islamabad is also a very significant step by NCHD.

"If the educated youth voluntarily come forward to contribute to this noble cause, an enormous social change could be brought in the situation of literacy and education of the country. I am hopeful that after successful completion of this campaign in Islamabad NCHD would expand it in the other areas of the country," he said.

NCHD Chairperson Razina Alam Khan said literacy was of vital importance as it directly related to the lives of people and was especially relevant to the mission of our organization which is working in the field since 2002.

She thanked donors especially Unesco for their support in promoting literacy and education in Pakistan.

"We are launching “Each one Teach one” Literacy Campaign to achieve the target of 90% literacy rate as envisaged in Vision 2025 and SDGs on war footings," she said.

She said, “this seminar is destined to provide awareness to all of us to devise a strategy to achieve 90% literacy in the country till 2025. We need to workout for the collaborative efforts by all stake holders to share their contribution in achieving the target and to raise awareness among the masses on the importance of literacy. Today we are going to practically implement the motto of PML-N constitution and I request the support of all especially our youth in this regard."

Dr. Muhammad Ajmal of Allama Iqbal Open University gave detailed resume of his university efforts in the field of education and literacy. He offered all out assistance to NCHD in adult and non-formal education. Ms. Jenson, representative of UNESCO said that literacy is the key target for SDGs. She viewed that women were the worst sufferers. She appreciated the efforts of NCHD.

The seminar was largely attended by the educationists, teachers, media men and renowned persons.