ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: The government has finalized a comprehensive package of educational reforms with medium-term targets aimed at achieving 100 per cent literacy rate in the country.
The package, called the Education Sector Reform Action Plan 2001-04, has been made a part of the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (IPRSP), which was jointly prepared by the finance division and the planning commission of Pakistan.
The country’s new three-year lending programme of $1.3 billion has been approved by the IMF on the basis of the IPRSP, which sets short and long-term targets to improve the economy, especially health and education.
Three strategic thrust areas of the education plan are: achieving 100 per cent literacy through universal primary education (UPE) — both formal and non-formal systems; adult literacy movement (15 years and above); and quality for sustaining 100 per cent literacy through professional development of teachers and managers.
One dedicated polytechnic at the tehsil-level and second shift in existing polytechnics, especially for women, has also been proposed.
Higher education has fully been endorsed as an important sector, which must work in collaboration with the ministry of science and technology and the private sector for optimum outreach and shift to science and technology and quality.
Around 80 per cent education for all (EFA) covers six goals: universal primary education and quality EFA by 2015; reduction of illiteracy by 50 per cent with a focus on reducing the gender gap by 2015; elimination of gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005; life skills and learning opportunities for the youth and adults; and early childhood education.
The targeted groups for EFA goals belong to disadvantaged communities. These groups are highly vulnerable, without access to learning facilities, or public sector facilities, which are functioning at sub-optimal levels.
“Recognizing a close nexus between poverty and illiteracy, extending entitlements through education sector reforms (ESR), is a major challenge”, the IPRSP said and added that promulgation of an ordinance for compulsory primary education would address socio-economic problems of poor students and social dropouts as a mutual responsibility of state and society.
An incentive package has been developed to meet poor students’ educational needs such as free textbooks, uniforms, stipends, nutrition and vouchers. Stipends for the students and nutrition support for girls and mothers are fully supported within the social safety net strategy of the government.
The paper observed that improvements in health outcomes were an important determinant of economic growth, as better human health led to increased productivity, improved learning ability, and reduced population growth rate. Though, it added, coverage had improved over recent years, little progress had been made in terms of providing quality health care to the vast majority of the population.
The health status of the nation after 53 years of independence is characterized by a high population growth rate, high incidence of low-birth-weight babies and maternal mortality. While communicable, infectious and parasitic diseases remain a severe burden, malaria and tuberculosis continue to be potential threats.
Although, consolidated public health expenditures rose from Rs13 billion in 195-96 to over Rs17 billion in 2000-01, they still represent a reduction from 0.63 per cent of the GDP in 1995-96 to 0.50 per cent of GDP in 2000-01. Additionally, a major share of these expenditures is focused on tertiary healthcare facilities with the result that primary and secondary tiers, especially in the rural areas, have been neglected.
Moreover, serious institutional/governance deficiencies also mar the health sector. Lack of capacity in district health offices in terms of human and financial resources impinges on their ability to effectively cater to the needs of the local population. Similarly, a shortage of equipment and staff at basic health units and rural health centres, especially lady doctors, nurses, lady health workers, laboratory equipment, drugs, continue to plague the health system.
“With situation in view the overall vision of the government’s medium-term health strategy is focused toward raising public sector health expenditures through a keen focus on preventive and control programmes, especially in the area of communicable and infectious diseases, reproductive health child health, and nutrient deficiencies”, the IPRSP said.