National Education Foundation (NEF) Sindh organised a walk at Seaview Apartments on Monday morning to celebrate "International Literacy Day". The literacy rate at present is 54 percent, while for females it is 42 percent. There are wide variations in rural-urban and male-female literacy rates.
The total number of illiterates today in the country is stated to be 55.5 million. At present, out of 20.2 million children of five to nine years of age, 14 million are in primary schools and remaining 6.2 million are out of school. About 40 percent of those enrolled in class I, dropout till they reach Class V.
To achieve the above objectives in July 2007, NEF was established to open and operate three types of non-formal Basic Education Community Schools and Centres (BECS). a) BECS for Age group 4-9 years in a non-formal environment; b) BECS for Age group 10-14 years in a non-formal environment; c) Female Literacy cum Skill Development Centres for Age group 15-35 years.
Presently there are 2,000 BECS and 300 Female Literacy and Skill Development Centres in Sindh. NEF has Offices in seven districts. Around 2,000 students and teachers of 11 partner NGOs of NEF participated in the event. Also some eminent speakers and representatives from renowned organisations participated in the event.
NEF Director Shahpara Rizvi thanked all the participants and in her speech, and emphasised on the need of both public and private to join hands together and promote education in the country, adding the government alone could not make a difference without the support of masses.
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