Literacy Trends in Pakistan - UNESCO Islamabad

13. FACTORS AFFECTING LITERACY RATE IN PAKISTANThough several factors have been affecting the literacy situation in Pakistan, both positively and negatively, the following are the mostsignificant:-13.1 Allocations for EducationIn Pakistan, allocations for education in general and for enhancement of literacy in particular, have, always been very low with, 2.3 % of GNPbeing the highest figure in 9 th Plan (1998-2003). The allocations for education in terms of percentage of GNP, have been continuously decliningfor the last many years (e.g. 2.34 in 1997-98, 2.2 % in 1998-99 and 2.14 % for 1999-2000). The first three Development Plans (1955-1970) didnot contain any allocations for literacy. Separate allocations for literacy started with the non-plan period (1970-78) in which Rs. 2.3 million wereallocated for literacy but actually only Rs. 5.00 million were spent. Rs. 12.5 million and Rs.8.5 millions, were respectively spent during the 7 thand 8 th plans periods for the first time.The message arising out of EFA 2000 Assessment noted that, “Education is characterized by the need to make tough choices between competingoptions of nearly equal attractiveness. There will never be sufficient funds to do all that educational planners would wish. The challengetherefore is to find new ways of meeting objectives. It may imply the need for thorough structural reforms; put another way, it may mean doingthings in different way. Sometimes this involves thinking the unthinkable, questioning the long-accepted practices”. Funding constraints alsoimpose a greater demand on the administration of the public education system and the rapid increase of literacy in developing countries likePakistan.The Ninth Five Year Plan (1998-2003) has the provision of an additional 0.35 % increase in the allocation for education every year, so that bythe end of the plan period (2002-2003) it will reach the level of 4 % of GNP, which is the minimum requirement as per UNESCOrecommendations. The 9 th Plan also targets to increase the literacy rate to 60% by the year 2003, and 75 % by the year 2010 by increasing theallocations for education. The National Education Policy (1998-2010) also aims at achieving a 55% literacy rate by 2003, by spending a total ofRs. 559,290.00 million on the education sector and 5,000.00 million specifically on literacy by 2003. As per data provided by EFA Wing of theMinistry of Education, about 81 adult literacy/training projects, will be completed in three phases upto 2015 for which about Rs. 178 million willbe spent. According to National Plan of Action the total number of literates in the country will be raised to 126 million, and the number ofilliterates will shrink to 20.4 million by the year 2015*. Though the allocations for literacy are meager yet if 4 % of GNP as planned in theEducation Policy is actually spent, we can hope for a more positive picture. However, if resources allow, more allocations should be madeespecially (e.g. at least 1% of GNP) for adult literacy and non-formal basic education programs in Pakistan.Source: National Action Plan: Our Roadmap to EFA, UNESCO & EFA Wing, Federal Ministry of Education, Govt. of Pakistan. p.7-827