Pakistan 29th in literacy rate in Asia, NA told
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan ranks 29th in terms of literacy among Asian and Pacific countries, the National Assembly was informed on Monday.
Education Minister Lt General ® Javed Ashraf Qazi, in response to a question, told the house that the government had launched a national plan of action called Education for All (EFA) 2001-2015 to achieve 86 percent adult literacy by the year 2015. He said the government had taken a number of steps to improve the literacy rate, which included the compulsory primary education ordinance promulgated in Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Islamabad. ââ¬ÅAbout 13,240 adult literacy centres have been opened while another 10,374 non-formal basic education schools have been established throughout the country.ââ¬Â
The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), a support organisation of the Ministry of Education, has launched an integrated literacy initiative in 17 districts under which 9,000 adult literacy centres have been set up with an enrolment of 50,000 adult learners. Some 1,838 community model schools have been established in the four provinces under the Girls Primary Development Project. Primary school children are being given free textbooks, stipends, food and nutrition to increase enrolment. The house was also informed that 109 private schools had affiliated themselves with Aga Khan University Examination Board. Of these, 96 intend to complete their requirement for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination to be held in 2007.
The minister said the Aga Khan board was an independent body and does not come under the federal government. Qazi said during an inter provincial education ministersââ¬â¢ conference held in Lahore, it was decided that the composite examination system for classes IX and X would be restored from 2007.
To another question, the education minister said 18 people were employed in the federal directorate of education from 2003-05. Of these, 11 were from Punjab, two from NWFP, one from urban Sindh, two from rural Sindh and two from Islamabad. No one from Azad Kashmir, Balochistan, FATA or the Northern Areas was appointed. He said the government was considering no proposal to replace Pakistan Studies with History and Geography at the intermediate level.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...-11-2005_pg7_39
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan ranks 29th in terms of literacy among Asian and Pacific countries, the National Assembly was informed on Monday.
Education Minister Lt General ® Javed Ashraf Qazi, in response to a question, told the house that the government had launched a national plan of action called Education for All (EFA) 2001-2015 to achieve 86 percent adult literacy by the year 2015. He said the government had taken a number of steps to improve the literacy rate, which included the compulsory primary education ordinance promulgated in Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Islamabad. ââ¬ÅAbout 13,240 adult literacy centres have been opened while another 10,374 non-formal basic education schools have been established throughout the country.ââ¬Â
The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), a support organisation of the Ministry of Education, has launched an integrated literacy initiative in 17 districts under which 9,000 adult literacy centres have been set up with an enrolment of 50,000 adult learners. Some 1,838 community model schools have been established in the four provinces under the Girls Primary Development Project. Primary school children are being given free textbooks, stipends, food and nutrition to increase enrolment. The house was also informed that 109 private schools had affiliated themselves with Aga Khan University Examination Board. Of these, 96 intend to complete their requirement for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination to be held in 2007.
The minister said the Aga Khan board was an independent body and does not come under the federal government. Qazi said during an inter provincial education ministersââ¬â¢ conference held in Lahore, it was decided that the composite examination system for classes IX and X would be restored from 2007.
To another question, the education minister said 18 people were employed in the federal directorate of education from 2003-05. Of these, 11 were from Punjab, two from NWFP, one from urban Sindh, two from rural Sindh and two from Islamabad. No one from Azad Kashmir, Balochistan, FATA or the Northern Areas was appointed. He said the government was considering no proposal to replace Pakistan Studies with History and Geography at the intermediate level.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...-11-2005_pg7_39
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