Literacy is not just a tool to write and read, but more importantly it is a means for social and human development. Literacy enables people to gain a voice and power against their disadvantaged situations, particularly women. The female literacy rate is drastically lower than the male literacy rate in developing countries. In the world today, one in five adults is still illiterate, and two-thirds of them are women (UNESCO).
Pakistan is one of those countries in which the literacy rate for women is quite low. I read an article in humanitarian news and analysis (IRIN), about the status of current female literacy and how they are trying to improve it. Currently, the female adult literacy rate in Pakistan is as low as 36 percent. This number indicates that there needs to be higher priority given to girls education in Pakistan. Recently, there has been a movement in Pakistan to tackle the women's deprived status by providing them with access to literacy. In 2002, the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) literacy center was formed by Pakistani President Perves Musharraf to support governments in areas of education, literacy and the provision of basic healthcare services. NCHD aims to accelerate the literacy rate by 3.3 percent per year to achieve Goal 4 of the Millennium Development Goals-from the current adult literacy rate of 53 percent (2006) to 86 percent by 2015. The commission has established over 41,000 literacy centers nationwide from which over 10,000 women have benefited. Nevertheless, despite this significant progress, barriers to real achievement in literacy still remain prevalent in Pakistani society. Particularly, poor transportation and hostile attitudes of men and the community towards female literacy are major factors that hinder women from pursuing literacy.
In tackling poverty, material aid tends to be emphasized by donor agencies. However, I believe that literacy is also among the most essential means that leads to eradication of poverty. Addressing material needs such as food, shelter, clothing and housing will not be beneficial to the community in the long term if it is not accompanied by initiatives to improve literacy. If people, especially women, do not have a voice, it will be difficult for them to break out of the poverty cycle and dependency irrespective of availability of material goods. Barakat has been supporting Afghan refugees living in Pakistan since 1994 by providing educational opportunities at elementary schools and evening schools. We promote education for girls in order to help minimize the literacy gap for the future generations. Acquisition of literacy at an early stage in their lives will significantly offer people, especially girls, more opportunities and options for their future and will also help improve their status.
Yumi Ujihara
