NCHD wins UNESCO Literacy Prize Award
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has been awarded International Reading Association (IRA) Award from UNESCO on 3rd November 06.
The award was received by Mr. Mohammad Azhar Khan, Director Education NCHD in a ceremony held in Paris, France. The supreme international bodyresponsible for development of education in the world has presented the award keeping in view the valuable services rendered by the NCHD in improvement of literacy rate in Pakistan.
To increase the literacy ratio through our education programs universal primary education and the implementation of an adult literacy. It provides literacy classes to adults and to out-of-school children, collects data through door-to-door surveys, as well as recruiting village volunteers and schoolteachers to ensure wide community participation in the enrolment of children in school.
118 countries submitted their proposals on literacy and non formal education for the prize but NCHD selected for the estimable award. This award contains 20,000 U$ dollars as cash prize, a silver medal and diplomacertificate. This award has been highlighted on internation al events and website of UNESCO as well.
It is worth mentioning here that National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has established 22,000 literacy centers in 76 districts in the country. 50, 000 learners have completed their education from these centers so for, while 86 percent graduates are females who have improved gender impartiality. Ensuring quality education through teachers training NCHD has also trained 19,000 teachers to increase enrolment and preventing dropout. It is for the first time that government has substantially increased the budget for education in financial year of 2006-07.
NCHD’s education program goal to achieve 86% literacy rate by year 2015. For achieving this goal NCHD has devised a strategy, which is enhancing net enrolment rates of children in primary education from 62% to 90%, reducing dropout from existing 50% to 15-20% and through the adult literacy centers annually 1.2 million illiterates will acquire basic literacy skills.
Dr Nasim Ashraf Minister of State & Chairman NCHD said that, “NCHD which was established in 2002 to help improve the delivery of services inthe social sectors at grass roots through innovative implementation solutions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals related to education, health has now entered in its 4th year of successful operations.
He said that, scaling up its operations from two districts in 2002 to more than 76 districts in 2006 speaks volumes of the commitment and dedication displayed by its staff members, partners from private and public sector, the untiring board members and above all the volunteers of National Commission for Human Development”.
He further said that keeping in view the rapid rate of NCHD success, President General Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister Islamic Republic of Pakistan has instructed NCHD to expand its operations to 100 districts across Pakistan by September 2006, and this task will Inshallah be achieved in specified time.