UNDERSTANDINGS IN ADULT EDUCATION AND ITS IMPACT ON COMMUNITY, A CASE STUDY, PAKISTAN

Overall literacy rate of Pakistan is between the world’s least-developed countries as a meager amount of 2 % during 2009-10 of GDP was spent on education. There are number of factors of poor literacy rate but the main factor is the dearth of political stability and therefore inconsistent style. This paper highlights the issue of Adult learning in Pakistan and also recommends a feasible solution. We have been working on Adult literacy projects in all the districts of Pakistan and given name “(ALC) Adult Literacy Centers”. There is a comprehensive procedure while locating the desired place and opening the center, which is given in the paper.

Literacy rate of the area is checked on Union Council level and from Education department to target the area. Literacy coordinator has a meeting with community influential person in the village. After this, a grand meeting is called in consultation with the community influential person and project literacy coordinator to describe the importance of adult literacy and opening of subjected ALC. Followed by the consultation, community nominates a teacher having qualification of Secondary School or Intermediate level. To open ALC, a test is conducted at that desired place. ALC is meant for two phases each of six month duration. In 2002, (NCHD) National Commission for Human Development was established at the federal level to the provinces. The NCHD has provided literacy by its present 120,263 adult literacy Centres where about 2.5 million adults have been literate. According to the NCHD estimates, nearly 50 million people in Pakistan have been literate. This project has the vision of empowering nation with a representative privilege and strong public and community participation. Comprehensive explanation of the process will be explained in the paper.

If we want to be seen as a self-respecting and empowered nation with a democratic dispensation the only way forward is to make this nation literate so that all citizens can be empowered to take part in the nation-building exercise and stand guard against all internal and external challenges to the country’s culture heritage, economic independence and sovereignty. Strategies and plans will be recommended to cope with this national challenge.