Literacy Trends in Pakistan - UNESCO Islamabad
Literacy Trends in Pakistan - UNESCO Islamabad Literacy Trends in Pakistan - UNESCO Islamabad
11. CURRENT LITERACY SITUATION IN PAKISTANThe overall literacy rate in Pakistan has been improving albeit at a very slow pace. In 1951, the overall literacy rate in Pakistan was 16.41 %.After 50 years, the current estimated literacy rate for 2003 is 51.13%. Roughly, and on an average, literacy rate in Pakistan has been growing atthe rate of 3.085* % annually. On the other hand, the total number of illiterates in Pakistan has almost doubled in absolute numbers. In 1951,there were only 22.54 million illiterates in Pakistan, 1998 Census results show that illiterate population has risen to 48.84 million. In terms ofprovincial comparisons, during the period of 1981 to 1998, the literacy rate in the province of Punjab increased at a rate of 3.1681* %, while thatof the province of Sindh marked the slowest/lowest rate of literacy growth, of 2.1588* %. The analysis becomes more interesting andastonishing when we study the district level trends, particularly the male-female disparities.The literacy scenario based on the 1998 census, has been presented in detailed statistical tables in PART-II of this report. Analysis in respect ofmale–female and rural-urban disparities is presented in the following tables (6-9).* Formula used for calculating the annual growth rate is given in the Annex-A at the end.16
Table-6Various statistical measures of literacy in Pakistan in 1998 (Age 10 + )Area Number of Districts *Range Mean Standard. VarianceDeviationPunjab 34 51.02 46.56 11.55 133.49Sindh 21 57.68 45.29 16.68 278.23N.W.F.P. 24 45.53 35.41 11.14 124.23Balochistan 26 25.91 24.83 6.92 47.95All Pakistan 105 66.13 43.92 13.98 217.65* Difference between the literacy rates of two districts – one with highest and the other with lowest literacy rate.Table 6 shows the greatest variance (278.23) of literacy rate in different areas of Sindh, while the least in the province of Balochistan (47.95). Itis an astonishing conclusion that factors promoting literacy rate are unevenly distributed in all the other three provinces except Balochistanwhere the situation is quite contrary. In Balochistan, the same factors seem to be affecting urban district of Quetta and the remote rural areas ofTurbat and Panjgur equally. Literacy growth and the total population of literates/illiterates from 1972-1998 in Pakistan is reflected in thefollowing graphs.17
- Page 2 and 3: ContributorsDescription and Analysi
- Page 4 and 5: Literacy Trends in PakistanUNESCO O
- Page 6 and 7: Part I - An Analysis of Literacy Tr
- Page 8 and 9: Part II Statistical Tables (Based o
- Page 10 and 11: an education that includes learning
- Page 12 and 13: district. This information on liter
- Page 14 and 15: In the present day context, when pa
- Page 16 and 17: 7. FUNCTIONAL LITERACYThe definitio
- Page 18 and 19: Middle Level (Level II)A) TARGET GR
- Page 20 and 21: Table - 3Comparison of Pakistan wit
- Page 22 and 23: Previous attempts made for the enha
- Page 26 and 27: Graph No. 1Growth of Literacy Rate
- Page 28 and 29: Table 7 below indicates the highest
- Page 30 and 31: Table 8Literacy Growth Rate Trends
- Page 32 and 33: District has progressed from a very
- Page 34 and 35: Table 11Districts in Various Litera
- Page 36 and 37: 13.2 Public Expenditure on Primary
- Page 38 and 39: lowest female literacy rate in Paki
- Page 40 and 41: All this suggests that a considerab
- Page 42 and 43: Graph No.4LITERACY RATE DIRECTLY EF
- Page 44 and 45: 16. LITERACY AND NATIONAL PLAN OF A
- Page 46 and 47: 17.1 Why has it been established?Th
- Page 48 and 49: Table 16 - Focus Areas and Key Stra
- Page 50 and 51: 17.5 Resource MobilizationThe Liter
- Page 52 and 53: PART - IIStatistical Tables(Based o
- Page 57: Table IILiteracy Rates (10 Years &
- Page 62: Growth RateYearsAll Areas Urban Rur
- Page 66 and 67: N.W.F.P.1972 15.50 23.10 4.701981 1
- Page 71 and 72: Table VLiteracy Rates (10 Years & a
Table-6Various statistical measures of literacy <strong>in</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1998 (Age 10 + )Area Number of Districts *Range Mean Standard. VarianceDeviationPunjab 34 51.02 46.56 11.55 133.49S<strong>in</strong>dh 21 57.68 45.29 16.68 278.23N.W.F.P. 24 45.53 35.41 11.14 124.23Balochistan 26 25.91 24.83 6.92 47.95All <strong>Pakistan</strong> 105 66.13 43.92 13.98 217.65* Difference between the literacy rates of two districts – one with highest and the other with lowest literacy rate.Table 6 shows the greatest variance (278.23) of literacy rate <strong>in</strong> different areas of S<strong>in</strong>dh, while the least <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce of Balochistan (47.95). Itis an astonish<strong>in</strong>g conclusion that factors promot<strong>in</strong>g literacy rate are unevenly distributed <strong>in</strong> all the other three prov<strong>in</strong>ces except Balochistanwhere the situation is quite contrary. In Balochistan, the same factors seem to be affect<strong>in</strong>g urban district of Quetta and the remote rural areas ofTurbat and Panjgur equally. <strong>Literacy</strong> growth and the total population of literates/illiterates from 1972-1998 <strong>in</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong> is reflected <strong>in</strong> thefollow<strong>in</strong>g graphs.17
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