By Sajjad Zaheer
The International Literacy Day is being observed on September 8, with the the theme of “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies”. Thus, UNESCO has been a key player in boosting global literacy since 1946. However, There are various organizations work alongside governments, local communities & experts in the field of literacy to help achieve the global literacy. There’s no denying the fact that prevalent literacy rate in Pakistan is at the heart of multiple challenges facing the country currently on several fronts.
According to a research, 11 crore, 50 lac children during the age of admitting in primary schools are deprived of basic education. Because, they remain busy in wandering, begging and working in shops for livelihood. However, 22 crore, 60 lac Children across the world, couldn’t get secondary education. The capacities of such kind of children are degraded.
It’s pertinent to mention that the illiteracy ratio amongst females have been recorded greater than male in the world. Approximately, 70% illiteracy ratio is observed amongst the 20 development states of the world. It means only 30% of females remain educated in such countries.
Simultaneously, In Pakistan, the education system is in dire need of reforms that can be elaborated in many ways. There are a host of manifestations which reveal the alarming extent and dismal conditions prevailing in the education sector. It would be quite appropriate to shed light on them.
The most prominent is the diverse nature of education system in our dear fatherland. Instead of one uniform system there are unfortunately Two systems currently prevailing in the country, that is, Public and non-private schools and the elite schools. These two systems are not onily entirely different from one another, but they’re also unconnected. They differ from one another in various aspects be it curriculum, teaching methods or examination system. The type of students and quality of education also greatly different in them. As regards the elite schools, they exclusively serve the rich class. Children of middle class families can just imagine to get their children enrolled in such institutes.
There’s no deny in the fact that education being imparted in public and non elite schools is of extremely poor quality. Such a poor quality of education especially manifests in the form of absence of critical thinking among the students. Unsurprisingly, such poor quality of education being imparted at the large number of educational institutions raising questions about the objective and purpose of education across the country.
On the other hand, the Non Governmental organizations like UNICEF, SPARC, Acted and others have played a tremendous role in shaping the educational shelter of the country. In this regard, SPARC is doing its level best across the country. It has reached very distant and remote areas to facilitate and orchestrate a spectacular environment for the children without discrimination of race, gender or religion. Meanwhile, During the emergency conditions SPARC reaches the schools and provide School bags, Stationary, Sports kits, Community mobilisation seminars, awareness wall chalking and such activities which are creating a marvelous platform for education. Sparc has provided accessive devices to the Special children by holding Health Screening sessions at various institutes. It has also provided wash facilities including solar panels, fans, carpets and also launched temporary learning centers through hiring Teachers on contract basis. Apart from this, Tremendous Events for the encouragement of children are held by the organization in various Governmental schools, which is no doubt a splendid Initiave. If NGOs like SPARC take such Initiatives continously then I believe that the structure of education in Pakistan will be quite different. Pakistan’s literacy rate will surely take a rising progress soon.
Last but not least, on the occasion of international literacy day, I applaud the services of SPARC for its extra ordinary efforts in the field of literacy. However, It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the solution of all the challenges lies in the strong and vibrant education system. This is only possible through holistic intervention in the system.
