National Consultation Conference on Post Literacy
Govt allocates 4% GDP for education: NCHD Chairman
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Dr Nasim Ashraf Minister of State and Chairman NCHD while inaugurating the National Consultation Conference on Post Literacy said that President and Prime Minister has approved 4% of GDP that will be allocated for education sector in Pakistan during the next year.
The Chairman NCHD said that government is committed to involve all NGO's in attaining the targets of Universal literacy in the country. The Chairman NCHD said that NCHD literacy centers are successfully running in 76 districts of the country where 13000 literacy centers have been established in past three years and another two hundred thousands literacy centers will be opened by NCHD throughout the country in next five years.
Dr Nasim Ashraf said that to achieve the Universal literacy in Pakistan a two prong strategy based on the interventions of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and literacy has been adopted. The Chairman said that net enrolment is being increased and drop out rates reduced through the UPE and literacy interventions in the remote areas of Pakistan.
Dr Nasim Ashraf said that literacy is a big factor for gender empowerment as it focuses more on female literacy.
Mr Iqbal-ur-Rehman Chief, NCHD literacy programme said that NCHD post literacy module has already been developed ,reviewed and field tested through a twice a week classes held for neo literacy which includes Quranic themes, life skills, house hold tips, information knowledge, social harmony, health and population issues. Dr Saleem Deputy Director Education Advisor, ministry of education, Ms Anayat Ullah Ex-Chairman Literacy Communication of Pakistan and Ms Shaheen Attique-ur-Rehman Ex-literacy minister Punjab highlighted the role of NCHD in promoting literacy amongst the marginalized segments of the country.
Prof Allen Roger the international consultant on literacy who is also a renowned author of many books on the subject of literacy programs said that focus of all literacy Programmes should be to promote the life skills. He praised the efforts of NCHD, PACADE (Pakistan Association for Continuing Adult Education) and UNESCO for promoting literacy in the country.
Mr Sajjad Hassan Federal Secretary for Education chaired the closing session of the conference where representatives of Provincial literacy department of Punjab, Elementary Education foundation of NWFP, literacy department of Sindh and Balochistan along with experts on the subject of literacy were also present.The Federal Secretary thanked the participants and assured the participants about the continuous support of Federal Education Ministry to the literacy programme spear headed by NCHD.