Punjab Literacy Movement for the adult seems to have failed to take off and many centres have closed down before starting work
At least 40 per cent of the on-paper 6,667 centres for adult literacy of the Punjab Literacy Movement failed to achieve targets. This is because of improper functioning due to absence of required strength and other administrative issues.
The first cycle of Punjab Literacy Movement Project (of six months duration) started at the end of 2014 with the objective to achieve target of maximum adult literacy in areas where literacy rate is not satisfactory. The scope of the project, worth Rs 1821.652 million, is to run 6,667 Functional Literacy Centres (FLCs) in 36 tehsils of the Punjab province in 40 months in six cycles.
Many officials concerned told TNS that almost 40 per cent of the FLCs could not be made functional in the first cycle that ends in May 2015. A progress report on the first cycle is yet to be compiled, according to high-ups of the Punjab government Literacy and Non Formal Basic Education Department (NFBE).
A number of district officials, talking to TNS on phone, say that around 40 per cent centres were closed down in the beginning of the first cycle.
The objectives of the project are: raising the literacy rate in 36 model tehsils by 7-20 per cent (average 11 per cent) with highest number of illiterates and least number of literacy interventions, to work on the concept of model tehsils with focused and cost-effective approaches on need basis with synchronized efforts, and give basic literacy and basic life skills to 10,00,000 adult illiterates of age group 16 plus (male and female) in 36 model tehsils selected on the basis of maximum number of illiterates and least number of literacy facilities in all the 36 districts of Punjab.
The objectives also include imparting literacy and skills through a focused approach via establishment and operation of 6667 FLCs for six cycles in 36 model tehsils. The plan is also to replicate the model in the remaining tehsils of each district in Punjab after piloting for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
A supervisor of the project in a district tells TNS that many centres could not take off because of less strength than required which should be not less than 25. "The place for the centre, utilities, and mobilisation is the responsibility of the teacher of the centre who is offered a small amount of Rs 5,000 per month against all these services," he maintains.
He adds that the final report on first cycle would show the success rate and it is difficult to say anything at the moment.
The project is executed through literacy and NFBE Department, government of the Punjab through Project Management Unit, District Governments/Authority through District Literacy Setup. Under the project, teachers are hired at district level and they are asked to manage the centres. In most of the cases, 95 per cent of students and teachers are women.
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According to reports, Pakistan’s adult literacy rate has increased to 57 per cent in 2012-13 from 55 per cent in the previous year. The adult literacy rate is based on 15-year plus age group. Women have a lower literacy rate in the country with few exceptions of major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. It is the highest in Punjab with 50 per cent and lowest in Balochistan with 18 per cent. These are the findings of Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2012-13 conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The survey covered 75,520 households all over the country.
Experts believe that such government projects do not fare better because of negligence and inefficiency of the government staff.
A senior official in the department says that till last year, the department has been running adult literacy centres in various projects but the targets could not be achieved. "The biggest challenge in improving adult literacy is motivation. It is very hard to bring adults at one place just for education purposes," he says.
The official informs that "Now, in the upcoming fiscal year, efforts are being made to ensure that adult literacy projects are consolidated and introduced with attractive packages like giving them different others skills under one roof, etc."
He believes it would take time to address problems and issues because we need awareness campaigns and advertisements to attract adults but, unfortunately, the money allocated for these projects is small. He says a holistic approach is required to cope with the challenge of illiteracy, especially in adults.