With a population of 18
crores. Pakistan bears the burden of one of the most illiterate countries of
Asia. About half of the male population is illiterate and two third of the
female population can’t even write their names. Generally, the degree of
matriculation classifies a person as being literate. Pakistan’s literacy rate is
58% according to latest survey in June, 2012. In our surrounding region,
Pakistan’s literacy rate is a little better than Nepal and Bangladesh, which
have literacy rates of 49 and 52 percent respectively. Other likes the Maldives
and Sri-Lanka have achieved far more impressive results given that above 90
percent of the population in both these countries is literate.
Even India has a 61 percent literacy rate, despite its enormous population.
According to literacy rate estimates by last year’s National Economic Survey,
there seem to be tremendous variance in literacy rates between the provinces.
Baluchistan has the lowest average since only 33 percent of the province is
literate compared to the national average of over 50 percent. Moreover, only 27
percent of women in Baluchistan are literate.
This problem of literacy exists both due to broad policy hurdles and some
on-ground factors. In policy making, it is the lack of political will, which can
be seen due to insignificant amount of budget allocate towards education, delays
in the passing of funds, and institutional inefficiency and corruption.
Resultantly, the lack of sufficient infrastructure in the form of school
buildings and facilities, low professional capacity of teachers due to the
non-availability of proper training institutes aids, as well as low public
awareness concerning the value of education, all contribute towards maintenance
of low educational rates at the ground level.