1

LITERACY

Ate 19th century: from literate, on the pattern of illiteracy in the English, the word
“ Literate” is mean to be” familiar with literature” or more generally, “well changed
learned”. Only since the late nineteenth century has it also come to refer to the abilities
to read and write text, while maintaining its broader meaning of being “knowledgeable
or educated in a particular field or fields”. Thus, the original meaning of the English
word “literacy” is different form it translation in several other language.

 DEFINATION OF LITERACY:
 According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate
literacy is "the quality or state of being
literate."
Literate, according to this same source, derives
from Middle English and Latin
terms meaning "marked with letters" and
"letters, literature." Two definitions are provided:
 "Able to read and write,"
"versed in literature or creative writing...having knowledge or competence

Knowledge of a particular subject, or a particular type of knowledge

 Hebert (1991) takes an explicitly constructivist perspective to

the definition of literacy:

2
For some time now, a new perspective on literacy, and the learning processes through
which literacy is acquired, has been emerging. This new perspective does not consist of
Old ideas with a new name, but rather it represents a profound shift from a text-driven
definition of literacy to a view of literacy as active transformation of texts. In the old
view, meaning was assumed to reside primarily within text, whereas, in the new view,
meaning is created through an interaction of reader and text

 According to the
National Institute for
Literacy
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 defines literacy as 'an individual's ability to read,
write, speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary
to function on the job, in the family of the individual and in society.' This is a broader
view of literacy than just an individual's ability to read, the more traditional concept of
literacy. As information and technology have become increasingly shaped our society
[sic], the skills we need to function successfully have gone beyond reading, and literacy
has come to include the skills listed in the current definition."

 According to the Foley (1994):

"or the purposes of this discussion, the term 'literacy' will be used broadly to refer to
the mastery of language, in both its spoken (or augmented) and written forms, which
enables an individual to use language fluently for a variety of purposes" Yet this author
also cautions that while "There is general agreement today that spoken language
abilities are closely related to the development of literacy skills in the normal
population"

"Linguistic ability, as opposed to speech production ability, appears to be the more

critical factor"

3
 Literacy rate in Pakistan:
57%
The literacy rate ranges from 96% in Islamabad to 28% in
the Kohl District. Between 2000 and 2004, Pakistanis in
the age group 55–64 had a literacy rate of almost 38%,
those ages 45–54 had a literacy rate of nearly 46%, those
25–34 had a literacy rate of 57%, and those ages 15–24
had a literacy rate of 72%

The literacy rate in Pakistan for the age group of 10 years and older saw an annual two
per cent increase to 60 percent. Seventy per cent of male students were found to be
literate as compared to 49pc girls in the age group.
The province-wise break-up indicates that Punjab has the top literacy ratio of 61pc,
with 71 and 55pc of girls and boys literate, respectively. In Sindh, the ratio remained
60pc with 71pc boys and 55pc girls’ literate, respectively. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is at
53pc and the gender-based ratio is 71 and 35pc for boys and girls, respectively.
Baluchistan came out in the last with a literacy rate of 44pc, with 61pc boys literate as
compared to 25pc girls. These goals are essential for rising adult literacy rate and
focusing on quality of education for both genders. NCHD has also established 164,190

4
Literacy Centres across the country,
benefiting 3.84 million people. The total
contribution of the NCHD in national
literacy rate is 3pc. NCHD has been also
assigned the task of preparation of the
National Plan of Action for Vision-2025 to
raise the literacy rate up to 90pc by 2025.
Punjab Literacy and Non-Formal
Education Department is implementing various projects related to literacy and Non-
Formal Basic Education. Literacy Curriculum has been developed in Punjab, Sindh and
Islamabad to improve literacy skills. Such sources are the main key for the development
of the country. Proper theoretical and practical skills for the quality of education are
real source for development of country.

 LITERACY RATE OF PAKISTAN SLIP BY 2%

ISLAMABAD: Literacy rate in the country saw an annual drop of 2.0 per cent to 58 per
cent during fiscal year 2015-17 — a level last seen in FY2013-14 when the current PML-
N government came into power, official figures released on Thursday revealed. The
situation has turned out to be an embarrassment for the federal government as it
skipped mentioning figures of FY15 in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2016-17 which
were better than the year FY14, just to avoid criticism. This scribe found the missing
figures from previous year’s records.

5
‘Our dream is to make Pakistan 100% literate’
The decline in literacy rate has been witnessed in Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab while

it remained stagnant in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

The drop is also being termed as a setback for the Ministry of Federal Education and
Professional Trainings which had been painting a rosy picture of the education sector.

The literacy rate in Baluchistan has fallen to 41 per cent in FY16 as compared to 44
per cent in FY15. Sindh has witnessed a whopping fall of 5.0 per cent to 55 per cent in
FY16 as against 60 per cent the previous fiscal. The rate in K-P has remained stagnant
at 53 per cent since FY14 while Punjab witnessed a 1.0 per cent decline in the rate as
compared to the rate the last fiscal.

Interestingly, the total number of enrolments at the national level during FY16 stood
at 46.2 million as compared to 43.9 million during FY15, reflecting an increase of 5.0
per cent.

Urban-rural divide: The urban-rural gulf is still wide in terms of literacy rate –
standing at 74 per cent in urban areas and 49 per cent in rural areas, pointing to
 6

thewidening gap between rural and urban education systems. Moreover, the overall
literacy rate among the male and female populations is 81 per cent and 68 per cent

respectively. A similar trend is glaring in all provinces.

 Matter of literacy: Out-of-school children census from 2017:

In Sindh, 44 per cent females and 67 per cent males are literate. In urban areas, it is 65
per cent and 80 per cent for female and male population respectively. Public sector
expenditure on education as percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) is
increasing at a snail’s pace with an estimation at 2.3 per cent during the FY16 as
compared to 2.2 per cent in FY15.

Educationists and national campaigners have been pressing the government to

allocate 4.0 per cent of GDP to the education sector. The figure was 2.1 per cent in
2013-14.

 Govt redefines literacy for count:

In Punjab, the total literacy rate is 54 per cent among female population and 59 per
cent among male population. In rural areas, the count is 44 per cent for females and 66

7
per cent for males. And in urban area, it is 73 per cent for females and 82 per cent for
males.

Baluchistan has 24 per cent female and 56 per cent male literacy rate. The
figure is 15 per cent for females and 48 per cent for males in rural areas while in
urban, it is 44 per cent and 76 percent for females and males respectively.
K-P’s literacy count is 36 per cent in case of females and 72 per cent in case of
males. In rural areas, percentage for females is 33 and males 70. While in urban
areas, it is 52 per cent and 77 per cent for females and males respectively.

Matter of literacy: Out-of-school children census from 2017

In Sindh, 44 per cent females and 67 per cent males are literate. In rural areas, it
becomes 19 per cent in case of female population and 51
per cent in case of male population. In urban areas, it is 65
per cent and 80 per cent for female and male population
respectively.

Public sector expenditure on education as percentage of the

gross domestic product (GDP) is increasing at a snail’s pace
with an estimation at 2.3 per cent during the FY16 as
compared to 2.2 per cent in FY15.

Educationists and national campaigners have been pressing the government to allocate
4.0 per cent of GDP to the education sector

 Causes of Low Literacy Rate in Pakistan:

The research was based upon finding the causes of low
literacy rate of Pakistan. Literacy is very effective and
important parameter of measuring social development of a
society. Literacy is also the ground reason for many other
social problems such as crime rate, political unawareness
and terrorism which off course has turned into a cancer.
The research survey and interviews were based upon the literature reviews ‘results.

8
A number of previous studies and analysis mostly were converging on a number of
definite reasons for low literacy rate. It is our religious obligation to get education.
Education is the basic need of every human not only in Pakistan but also in all across the
world.

We are Muslims and this is our belief that literate and illiterate people are not equal.
This phrase shows the importance of education in one’s life. Good education is one of
the basic rights of a nation in a country. It has direct effect over the overall performance
of a country.

A country should be considered a successful country if

there are more people are educated. People have
direct and indirect impact on the success of country.
The more literate people mean the most successful
country. First of all let me tell you that what is literacy?
And what is literacy rate in Pakistan.

The ability to read and write and understanding is referred as literacy. And the overall
percentage of literate persons is known as literacy rate. According to the latest survey of
UNESCO, the literacy rate in Pakistan is 56.4%, which is very low as compare to the
other countries like America, Canada etc. In Pakistan males are 69.6% literate while
females are only 42.7%.

This is one of the biggest reasons behind the backwardness of our beloved country
Pakistan. This literacy report clearly shows the discrimination of gender as the male are
more educated than the females. There are many reason behind this low literacy rate.

One of the biggest reasons behind the illiteracy in Pakistan is the lake of awareness.
People of Pakistan are less aware the benefits of
education in their life. It is due to the lake of
gaudiness. Moreover our government spent a
small part of its GDP on education which is not
enough to provide good education in any
country. Mostly people consider that education

9
is only meant for the males and they send their boys to school but not send their
daughters to school. This is one of the biggest reason that the only few female of
Pakistan are getting education and rest of the females have not got even the A B C of
education. There is tribe and tradition system in the villages of Pakistan which don’t
allow their kids to go to school due to the pride of their tribe.

Our government has failed to provide basic education in Pakistan. The reason behind
their failure is that they haven’t motivated the students of basic classes to get education
by showing the charms of education. Mostly student don’t like studies because in their
schools, their teachers use stick to provide them education which is very wrong method
to provide education. Kids are only can be motivate to get education through prizes.

If we want to increase the literacy rate in Pakistan than we should improve our
education system. Moreover it is responsibility of government to aware the nation by
telling the benefits of education. If our literacy rate will be increased our country will
become the successful country automatically.

 Poverty
 Lack of awareness
 Gender discrimination
 Government’s mismanagement
 Parents with little schooling
 Lack of books at home and lack
of stimulation as to the
importance of reading
 Doing badly at or dropping out of school—many have not completed high school
 Difficult living conditions, including poverty;
 Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, etc.
 Lack of awareness.

We also view sex-segregation as a reason for our low

literacy rate. In the developing country like Pakistan

10
where finance is a major problem, where we are not strong enough monetarily, we are
stressing sex segregated schools. We believe in that the cultural norms here demand
such measures Howe ver they should not be considered to an extent where they become
a hurdle. Although the government is doing effort to provide the segregated schools and
colleges for boys and girls but still it’s a problem. If we’ll wait for these pirated schools
for the girls we will deprive our generations from the basic right of education

Population growth is also posing a problem since the rapid population growth restricts
the literacy planning. There is a sure chance that after five years or so the population
figures become obsolete and planning needs to be revised. Plus the impact of an already
done work is limited as a massive challenge grows within that period. The population
should be controlled if the effects of the efforts are to be observed clearly. Why the ratio
of the students who are just saying goodbye to school isi increasing because we are not
providing the education which can attract the child towards itself.

The supply of female teachers is important to encourage the female education

considering the cultural norms. Quality of education at primary level is not
standardized. This results in high dropout rate. There is a very little convincing factor
and attraction ino bolete methods of teaching. Therefore those who are already
economically stressed are highly vulnerable to drop from primary level.

Teachers often are well equipped and sometimes it is seen that teachers are not
properly qualified even. Cases have been reported with schools having teachers who are
not qualified up to primary levels. So the political involvement is also resulting in under
qualified people coming to this sector. Besides, the facilities like furniture and other
basic needs are not provided. The schools in rural areas are not well placed to cater
majority of the population.

11
  The importance of female literacy:
An educated mother has the ability to lay the foundations of a healthy and enlightened
society. The entire personality of a person revolves around the sphere of mother’s
training, especially in our patriarchal society where child care is the primary
responsibility of women. Women represent 49 percent of total population in Pakistan,
but the literacy rate of women stands at 36 percent. In Pakistan, the primary school
dropout rate of girls is 50 percent. As Muslims, we all know that Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) laid great stress on the importance of education and said that it is the leading
duty of men and women to acquire education.

Women’s education in Pakistan is facing different hurdles of varying kinds. The overall
size of the population is mounting rapidly and has resulted in further female illiteracy.
In our society, boys get preferential treatment from their families and they are allowed
to continue their education and the parents always pick the boy if there is a choice
between educating a boy or a girl.

This practice has contributed in limiting the overall presence of women to get
education. There is also the prevalent notion that it is males have to be bread-earners
and women need not work (even though a large proportion of women are forced to
work due to multi-farious
reasons), which is why their
education must be prioritized.

Another hurdle that is

significantly contributing to
female illiteracy is that females are not allowed to go to universities, colleges, for
continuing their education. As our society is a male-dominated society and women not

12
only have problems of financial and moral support but also problems of mobility and
security, so they cannot pursue higher education even if they want to.

Every government talks about the importance of female literacy but very few have come
up with targeted and specific solutions and all the education policies remain vague and
platitudinous. Our government is spending 2% of national GDP on education, which is
nothing short of criminal negligence. Our neighboring countries Sri Lanka and India
have developed a gender equality policy in education, and are flourishing very rapidly.

In Pakistan, the development of media has brought awareness in society about many
issues and has contributed to opening up society in many ways. As a result, many
women are heading towards different professions of life. Kofi Annan said, “More
countries have understood that women’s equality is a prerequisite for development”.

It is not possible for a society to progress by restricting half of its population and not
providing with their basic right i.e access to education. Women have always played a
main role in the building of nations. So, for a better Pakistan, it is essential to equip
women with quality education.

 TOP 10 REASONS FOR WHY FEMALE EDUCATION IS

IMPORTANT:

13
From Cairo to Beijing, offering quality and universal education to young girls promotes
progress for society as a whole. Carla Koppel of the United States Agency for
International Development, better known as USAID, even called female education a
“silver bullet” for empowerment and progress. To better understand the far-reaching
effects of a few books and a classroom, here are the top 10 reasons why female
education is important.

 Increased Literacy: Of the 163 million illiterate youth across the globe, nearly
63 percent are female. Offering all children education will prop up literacy rates,
pushing forward development in struggling regions.

 Human Trafficking: Women are most

vulnerable to trafficking when they are
undereducated and poor, according to the
United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking. Through providing
young girls with opportunities and fundamental skills, this billion-dollar industry
can be significantly undermined.
 Political Representation: Across the globe, women are underrepresented as
voters and restricted from political involvement. The United Nations Women’s
programmers on leadership and participation suggest that civic education,
training and all around empowerment will ease this gap.
 Thriving Babies: According to the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative,
children of educated mothers are twice as likely to survive past the age of five.
Foreign aid for schoolhouses and curriculum development could greatly benefit
the East African country of Burundi, where
nearly 16,000 children die per year.
 Safe Sex: A girl who completes primary school
is three times less likely to contract HIV. With
these statistics in mind, The World Bank calls
education a “window of hope” in preventing
the spread of AIDS among today’s children.
14
 Later Marriage: As suggested by the United Nations Population Fund, in
underdeveloped countries, one in every three girls is married before reaching
the age of 18. In a region where a girl receives seven or more years of education,
the wedding date is delayed by four years.
 Smaller Families: Increased participation in
school reduces fertility rates over time. In Mali,
women with secondary education or higher
have an average of three children.
Counterparts with no education have an
Average of seven children.

 Income Potential: Education also empowers a woman’s wallet through boosting

her earning capabilities. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization, also known as UNESCO, a single year of primary
education has shown to increase a girl’s wages later in life by 20 percent.
 Thriving GDP: Gross domestic product also soars when both girls and boys are
being offered educational opportunities. When 10 percent more women attend
school, GDP increases by three percent on average.
 Poverty Reduction: When women are
provided with equal rights and equal
access to education, they go on to
participate in business and economic
activity. Increased earning power and
income combat against current and future
poverty through feeding, clothing and
providing for entire families.

 The importance of education, how literacy improves lives:

One of the ways in which Plan International UK aims to
improve global literacy statistics is by focusing on the
importance of education, particularly in communities
15
 where opportunities to develop literacy skills are less available to girls. 15
million girls will never have the opportunity to learn to read and write in
primary school - this is why we focus on supporting girls and their communities
to end gender inequality in education.

 So how can literacy improve lives? Here are 5 ways:

I. Literacy lifts individuals out of poverty

Lacking basic reading and writing skills is a tremendous disadvantage. Literacy not only
enriches an individual’s life, but it creates opportunities for people to develop skills that
will help them provide for themselves and
their family.

II. Literacy improves the

development of the wider
community
The positive knock-on effect of educating girls can be seen in the wider social and
economic benefits yielded for their communities. Increasing the emphasis towards
women’s education positively impacts on each generation through raised expectations
and increased self-esteem. Improving literacy facilitates employment whereby both
males and females can contribute, helping the wider economy and community to thrive.

III. Literacy reduces infant mortality rates

Illiteracy directly affects an individual’s health and wellbeing, so the importance of
education on physical health is vital. Those without education are more likely to be
vulnerable to health problems, for example increased schooling reduces the risk of HIV
infection. According to one study of women in 32 countries: literate women are three
times more likely than illiterate ones to know that a person in seemingly good health

16
can be infected with HIV, and four times as likely to know how to protect themselves
from AIDS.

Infant mortality rates drop significantly for women who have had primary education,
and even more for those who complete secondary school. It is estimated that infant
mortality decreases 9% for every year of education attained. This is because girls and
women are able to educate themselves on health issues, which can help reduce the cycle
of poverty and mortality rates in the long term.

IV. Literacy empowers women and girls

The global illiterate population of young girls is 61.9
per cent so the importance of education for women
cannot be understated.

Breaking the cycle of illiteracy and improving self-

esteem is crucial for women and girls in the developing world. By enabling them to
become economically productive and independent, they become empowered and can
take control of their lives. The importance of education in fostering personal autonomy,
and creative and critical thinking skills is central to helping girls contribute to their
societies.

V. Literacy positively impacts economic growth beyond the local

community

The impact of improving literacy in girls

not only has a positive economic impact
at a local and community level, but the
productivity of the workforce flourishes at country level too by enhancing a country’s
economic strength.

17
  How you can help improve a young girl’s life
You can support our continuing efforts to ensure all children receive a quality
education.

I. Banned Books Club

Start a book club that reads commonly banned literature.

Problem: Students who don't read voluntarily

have lower literacy rates and reading
comprehension scores.

Solution: Some books banned by schools are

proven to get students hooked on reading,
typically because they're more interesting. Teens, especially boys, respond well to a
little rebelliousness. The “Catcher in the Rye,” “Captain Underpants,” “The Hunger
Games” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” are just a few of the vast number of
commonly censored books that can often ignite an interest in reading in young people.

II. Stacks on Stacks:

Run a competitive drive to collect books for low-income areas.

Problem: Sixty-one percent of low-income families don't have access to books, which
puts children at a social and academic disadvantage.

Solution: Members rally their school and pit each grade against each other in a book-
collecting competition. Students collect and stack books in their grade's designated spot.
Highest stack is crowned champ! But the real winner? Your local communities and the
low-income families in your area.

III. Puzzle Party:

Volunteer to construct puzzles with local kindergarten students.

18
Problem: Children often loath sitting down and reading, especially in a classroom
setting, thus making it difficult to develop the critical thinking skills necessary for both
social development and literacy acquisition.

Solution: It is a widely accepted fact that board games and puzzles foster cognitive
development in young children. Spend some time with a local kindergarten class, and
encourage a love of productive and educational play.

 SOLUTION OF Illiteracy:
Solution of illiteracy given below:

i. Awareness about Problem:

To bring these illiterate people into the lines of progress, advancement and change it is
necessary to aware them about problems and consequences of illiteracy as their
problem. They Should be provided information through mass media of communication
and general social contact with the educated people about impacts of illiteracy.

19
ii: Attitude Change:
Illiterate people can be drained into channel of progressive people with attitude change
through showing movies, lectures by officers and programs of literacy on radio and
television. These people can be given incentive of prize, if they take classes of literacy in
the union council offices or schools of the Village.

iii. Literacy Programs.

The literacy program includes teaching the basic Subject i the language of the people,
English, Urdu or whatever they like. This work can be done by Other educated young
men of the rural area on voluntary basis. The building is available as school, hospital1
office and even the mosque of the area.

iv. Free Educational Items:

Those people who attend to this literacy program can be provided stationary and books
free of cost. The time of teaching and learning can be fixed in the evening of the
completion of their work. Four to six weeks teaching is sufficient to make them literate
as to read and write the basic things of their need. This can be continued up to another
two to three weeks at their homes on their interest.

v. Increase the Importance of Education:

The people who are illiterate say that what is the use of this literacy and education for
us because we are in the last stage of our age. Our argument is based on the fact that
their literacy will be helpful to educate their children. They will feel importance of
education and will educate their children at any cost Those young men who are quite
illiterate are wasting their costly time of life without less output of their works whether
it may be in farms.

The literate people can utilize new techniques of agriculture with better results. A
revolution can be brought up in rural economy and social life if literacy percentage rises
at the level of urban area. They will be able to provide better life and good sanitation
and health occasion within their household life.

vi. Change the Mindset:

20
It is the mind, which changes first and then it brings changes in the total of social life.
Change of mind is the change of general social life. And the mind cannot be changed
until the education is not given to the people. Education is the injection of change and
progress. The use of radio, television”, newspapers and the mass media of.
Communication are the aiding sources for the acceptance of education for progress.
 BANK ROAD CAMPUS LAHORE

Submitted To: DR.TALLAT RASHID

Submitted By: Aneeqa Farooqi

Nabeeha Riaz
Nida Javed
Saima Jahanger
Uraza Saadat

Program: B.ED (HONS) EVE

Semester: 5th

Subject: FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION

Topic: “What is the situation of Literacy in

Pakistan? GIVES YOUR COMMENTS”
REFERANCES:

https://pakobserver.net/literacy-rate-pakistan/
http://www.studysols.pk/reasons-behind-low-literacy-rate-pakistan/
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/05/18/illiteracy-in-pakistan/
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/illiteracy-in-pakistan/
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/09/15/the-importance-of-female-
literacy/
https://borgenproject.org/top-10-reasons-female-education-important/
https://plan-uk.org/blogs/the-importance-of-education-how-literacy-
improves-lives
http://www.educationandcareernews.com/learning-tools/3-ways-
students-can-improve-literacy-rates-right-now
CONTENT:

1. Definition of literacy …………………………………………………………………………….. 1

2. Literacy rate in Pakistan…………………………………………………………………………..3
3. LITERACY RATE OF PAKISTAN SLIP BY 2%....................................................4
4. Matter of literacy: Out-of-school children census from 2017………………...6
5. Government redefines literacy for count………………………………………………...6

6. Causes of Low Literacy Rate in Pakistan …………………………………………………..7

7. The importance of female literacy………………………………………………………….11
8. TOP 10 REASONS FOR WHY FEMALE
EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT……………………………………………………………………12
9. The importance of education,
how literacy improves lives ……………………………………………………………...... 14
10. So how can literacy improve lives? Here are 5 ways ……………………….. 15
11. How you can help improve a young girl’s life ……………………………………. 17
12. Solution of Literacy ……………………………………………………………………………..18

According to my opinion:
OUR literacy rate is said to be 56 percent. In fact, this figure is not
reliable and also includes those who can only write their names.

Pakistan ranks at 113th position among 120 countries of the world. This
is an international embarrassment.

According to my opinion the main reason of low literacy rate in Pakistan

is women suffered as a result of gender bias and remained confined
within the four walls of their homes. The literacy rate could not increase
mainly because of the illiterate woman population in the country which
comprises more than half of the population.

Nowadays women education is as important as men education. We

cannot reach the success level without educated women. So we should
also give importance on women education and also open specific girl’s
schools, colleges and universities in villages so the village people could
easily allow their daughters, sisters and wives. It is a fact that an
educated woman makes the whole generation educated. Through this
we will see a very good change in illertacy rate of Pakistan.