04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: Participants of a consultative workshop here on Friday doubted the ability of Pakistan to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and Education For All (EFA) by the year 2015 as there were still 50 million adult illiterates, of which 30 million were women.

Giving figures from a recent EFA report, they said there was only 20.9 per cent female education ratio in the country's rural areas, while even less than 50 per cent of the children could find the opportunity to attend primary schools.

Again, less than 50 per cent of the enrolled children survived to class five, while only seven per cent of those reaching class five had achieved expected level of literacy.

The 'Consultation on Media Strategy for Basic Education and Adult Literacy' had been organized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in connection with September 8 International Literacy Day.

A large number of journalists and educationists were also present on the occasion in a bid to elicit proposals regarding the role of electronic and print media in promoting the cause of education.

In his welcoming remarks, Unesco's representative in Pakistan, Jorge Sequeira, said education was vital for inter and intra cultural harmony because peace could only exist after enabling followers of various ideas to communicate successfully after learning how to read and write.

By educating people, we can eliminate poverty and increase the output of women, farmers, workers etc. "Only through literacy we can achieve development and combat poverty," he said.

Media played a vital role in accelerating social movements by sensitizing people about literacy and investigating and highlighting loopholes in the education system.

Chief, Education and Child Protection, Unicef Dr Maurice Robson said journalists should be trained in education sector- related reporting by the UN, while primary education should be revolutionalized at district and tehsil level by offering health, economic and social development and benefits to the teachers community. He said if Pakistan wanted to be developed it should provide primary level education to all children.

Females in the rural areas needed more attention, he said. Because, only in Mirpurkhas district as many as 72 per cent of the girls were out of school, he added. According to a recent Unesco study on 270 primary schools across the four provinces, only 42 per cent children could be said to have mastered half of the curriculum content.