ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Chairperson Razina Alam Khan said on Wednesday that proactive and vibrant initiatives need to be adopted for eradicating illiteracy from the country.
The NCHD chairperson said this while presiding over the National Consultative Workshop on National Plan of Action for Literacy and Non-Formal Education (2018-2025) organised by the NCHD.
Experts and representatives of education and literacy departments from all provinces, along with senior members of NCHD, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) attended the workshop.
Speaking on the occasion, the NCHD chairperson said, “UNESCO has been globally working for the promotion of literacy and basic education and has effectively led the ‘Education For All’ campaign in the past.” After 2015, UNESCO had assumed the responsibility of leading Sustainable Development Goal number 4, which is specifically related to education, she added.
The chairperson also said that UNESCO, United Nations Children’s Fund and JICA have been supporting basic education initiatives in the country, while adding that UNESCO was providing financial and technical assistance for the ongoing workshop as well.
Furthermore, the chairperson said that the NCHD was the national lead agency for literacy, and since 2002 it had been working for the promotion of literacy and basic education. “Our main role is to help the provinces in the fight against illiteracy, under which we are working closely with education departments around the country,” she added.
Talking about national plan to ensure high literacy levels, the chairperson said that, “NCHD initiated work on the development of National Plan of Action for Literacy in the context of Pakistan Vision 2025.” NCHD was directed by the Planning Commission to develop a roadmap for achieving Vision 2025 target of 90% literacy in the country, she added.
Moreover, the chairperson said that the ongoing workshop was the first step towards realising the dream of an educated Pakistan. She acknowledged the support of Federal Education Minister Engineer Baligh Ur Rehman for supporting NCHD and approving PC-1, which included establishment of National Training Institute for Literacy and Non-Formal Education as well.
The chairperson also said that the National Literacy Plan would be compiled with the help of all provinces. Once all these plans were finalised, we would then join hands again to mobilise resources required for its implementation, she added.
Addressing the participants, NCHD DG Samina Waqar said that all stakeholders needed to work hard and with utmost seriousness to realise the dream of 100 per cent literacy in the country.
In the end, UNESCO representative Nye said that 25 years earlier the UN started its ‘Literacy for All’ initiative to educate people around the world, while adding that the visionary plan adopted by the NCHD was in line with the UN policy and needed immediate implementation by dedicated officials.
