Abstract

This study was conducted to appraise the illiteracy reduction programmes/plans that were implemented at different times to increase the literacy rate in Pakistan. To promote literacy in Pakistan first conscious attempt was made in Educational Policy 1972-80. Literacy and Mass Education Commission (LAMEC) was established in 1981 after the implementation of National Education Policy 1979. In 1989 LAMEC was renamed as National Education Training Commission (NETCOM). In 1995 NETCOM was given the name of Prime Minister Literacy Commission (PMLC). National Literacy Programme was a five years plan, which started working in 1995-96 but was stopped after one year. Later on this commission was changed to Education for All (EFA) which was renamed as Literacy Project Wing in 2004. Presently National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) is running the same programme. This study was designed with the main objectives such as; to appraise the illiteracy reduction plans introduced in Pakistan, know the ground realities regarding implementation of illiteracy reduction programs, and to provide the basis for further research in the area of illiteracy. Following were the source of data for this study: Educationists (Ph.D. degree holders), executives working at the top level management in policy formation, plan designing, project development and program development, executives working in national planning commission, provincial secretary, additional secretary, deputy secretary and EDOs (Education & literacy), literacy teachers, heads of different NGOs, community representatives and direct beneficiaries (the brick makers, manual workers, laborers, peasants etc). Snowball sampling technique was used to find the most relevant persons (respondents) for different illiteracy reduction programme in different areas for the conduct of this research study. Data collection was started from the person who had been involved for long in illiteracy eradication programmes, one program was evaluated at one time. On his identification the other respondent was chosen. The data were collected from 1348 respondents. Main findings of the study showed that need assessment was not carried out before launching illiteracy reduction programmes, objectives of the illiteracy reduction programmes were not relevant to the literacy needs of the participants, local community was not involved in the running the literacy centers, religious leaders, intellectuals & retired personnel, were not invited to support the illiteracy eradication programmes efforts, incentives were not provided to the participants for their outstanding achievements and participation and political instability in the country was a hurdle in the achievement of the targets of the illiteracy eradication programmes. A programme to improve the literacy rate in Pakistan was presented by the researchers as the main recommendation of this study.