Literacy is important tool to make social, cultural, economic and political sense of individuals and societies. Prosperity and good future of nations depend on 100% literacy rate of country, which is challenge for Punjab Government to achieved it.
According to 5th MDG (Millennium Development Goals) 100% literacy, Government of Punjab goal was to achieved target 88% literacy rate in 2015 and 100% in 2020. For this purpose Government launched
NFBE in 2002 with public and private partnership to reach every corner of county to provide Basic Education for all. The idea was one room, one teacher and one primary school to minimize the expenditures.
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Non Formal and Basic Education School located in District Jhang working under
Literacy & Non Formal Basic Education Department , Government of Punjab |
In 2002 Government of Punjab launched literacy & Non Formal Basic Education Programme to get fastest results but government performance in previous 16 years remain very low, due to lack of interest and barriers in policy making. A target was set to 88% literacy rate in Punjab till 2015 not achieved until 2018 government literacy rate remains just 63% which is horrible condition for policy makers and show the scale of interest in education.
Before General Election winning party PTI make promises about betterment in education was included in 10 points Agenda. Now PTI policy maker should learn lesson from previous government policies and focus on education sector specially Non Formal and Basic Education because this alternative way in Developing countries considers a fastest way to provide Basic Education in low experience with compare to Formal Education.
According to Literacy and Non Formal Basic Education Department Government of Punjab average monthly cost per student in Non Formal Education is just 200 with compare to Cost in Formal Education 6000 per student in a month.
In Punjab literacy and Non Formal Education Department have some serious challenges but previous government did not give proper attention. First of all PTI Government should establish a Directorate in first 100 days and prepare a long term policy . Second challenge is insecurity of employees should be consider top priority and regular the all employees those are working in project of Non Formal Education and take advantage from experience staff.
Third Challenge is minimum honorarium of NFBE teacher and utility allowance. should be equal to a minimum salary of a labour. Fourth big challenge is establishment of international standers Capacity Building Training center for teachers to improve teaching methods.
If PTI lead Punjab Government addressed to these four challenges in first 100 days then we will be hopeful to 100 % literacy in Punjab.
