Realistic plan needed to boost enrolment, literacy

NCHD chairperson says socio economic indicators of country encouraging

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan requires a realistic plan of action for addressing 22.6 million out of school children (OOSC) and 57 million adult illiterates while National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) is endeavouring hard to fulfil its limited role in promoting non-formal education and enrolment of OOSC.

This was observed by the NCHD chairperson ex-senator Razina Alam Khan while presiding over a meeting of the commission in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by commission members, Khursheed Bharocha from Balochistan, Saba Gul Khattak from K-P, Dr Sono Khangrani from Sindh, Dr Mubashar Bhatti from Punjab and representatives of federal ministry of education and technical training and ministry of finance along with DG NCHD Samina Waqar.

The chairperson NCHD said that the socio-economic indicators of Pakistan as compared to many other countries of this region are encouraging, but with 22.6 million out of school children and 57 million adult illiterates, Pakistan is facing a huge challenge, she viewed.

The current national literacy rate is 58% has to be taken to 90% by 2025 and enrolment 100% under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she observed.

She acknowledged the support of UNESCO and mention that our main role is to help the provinces and areas in the fight against illiteracy menace.

She added that National Literacy Plan or Plan of Action will be compiled based on the provincial and area Literacy Plans.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2017.