ISLAMABAD: International Literacy Day is being observed on September 8 (Sunday) to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating a more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.

Unesco highlights that the lack of access to education remains a significant barrier, as three out of four children in developing countries cannot read or comprehend a basic text by the age of 10, and there are still 754 million illiterate adults globally, two-thirds of whom are women.

On Literacy Day, Unesco Director-General, Audrey Azoulay emphasised that those struggling to learn in an unfamiliar language are sent the wrong message- that the education system does not recognise their language or culture, that the opportunities made possible by education are not for them. To address this situation, this year’s International Literacy Day focuses on ‘Promoting multilingual education.

Literacy for mutual understanding and peace.’

In today’s world, multilingualism is a common practice for many. Empowering people by adopting a first language-based, multilingual approach to literacy development and education is particularly effective for its cognitive, pedagogical, and socioeconomic benefits. Such an approach can help promote mutual understanding and respect, while solidifying communal identities and collective histories.

Ms Azoulay said: “The benefits of multilingual education are well documented and evidenced by research. When children are offered education in their household language, more of them attend school, girls from rural areas stay in education longer, and all children acquire better thinking skills”.

“Multilingual education also supports intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and peace. For language is a passport to communication with others: it connects us across cultures; it opens us to new ways of perceiving and interpreting the world; it strengthens understanding within and between people,” she said. This is one of the convictions enshrined in the new Unesco recommendation on education for peace, human rights and sustainable development.

Quoting the seventh Pakistan Population and Housing Census, Gallup Pakistan analysis shows that the overall literacy rate in Pakistan improved by 1.8pc, from 58.9pc in 2017 to 60.7pc in 2023; the highest literacy rate recorded was among the 13 to 14 year olds living in urban areas (88.8pc).

From 2017 to 2023, the total literacy rate in Punjab, Sindh and ICT increased by 2.2pc, 3.0pc and 2.5pc respectively, while it fell in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by 2.9pc and in Balochistan by 1.6pc. Male populations in ICT recorded the highest literacy rate in 2023 (88.2pc), while the lowest was recorded among the female population in Balochistan (32.8pc). Among the provinces, Punjab had the highest urban (76.7pc) and rural (58.4pc) literacy rate in 2023.

Between 2017 and 2023, urban areas showed a modest increase of 0.9pc, while rural areas saw a more substantial rise of 1.5pc in their literacy rates.Within age groups, the highest literacy rate recorded was among the 13 to 14 years olds living in urban areas.

According to the 2023 Census, approximately 104 million out of 172 million Pakistanis over the age of 10 were literate, resulting in an overall literacy rate of 60.7pc. Men had a notably higher literacy rate (68pc) compared to women (52.8pc), and urban areas (74.1pc) outpaced rural regions (51.6pc) in literacy.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2024