The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) is helping eradicate illiteracy with optimal utilisation of meagre resources. This was stated by Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed at a certificate giving ceremony of the commission held at Liaquat Auditorium Hall, Rawalpindi.
Sheikh Rashid said the NCHD is doing a great job in promoting literacy by providing training to teachers. He congratulated the NCHD for the crusade against illiteracy and hoped that it will bring a visible difference in the education index of Pakistan.
The NCHD started its literacy drive in Rawalpindi district in June 2003 with the opening of 53 adult literacy centres. So far, 1554 learners are enrolled in these centres and 99 percent of these learners are females.
These literacy centres are located in 15 union councils, including Rehmatabad, Dhok Matkal, Naseerabad, Chaklala, Morgah, Gangal, Dhok Sayyedan, Pir Wadhai, Dhok Hasusso, Chaudhry Ashraf, Hoothla, Pind Nushehri, Alipur Farash, Pindori and Chontara. 1120 learners graduated from these centres.
Dr Nasim Ashraf, talking to media men on the occasion, said: "National Commission for Human Development is assisting government departments since last one year to address issues like primary healthcare, community development, primary education, literacy and micro enterprise development."
He further said that, presently the NCHD is running its programmes in 16 districts of Pakistan. Apart from the core programme area, literacy programme is taking place in 42 districts of four provinces, Northern Areas and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
Overall, 1,882 adult literacy centres of NCHD were set up in various parts of the country. 50,448 candidates have so far been enrolled in them and 27,637 have graduated from these centres.
The role of education EDO, district & union council nazims, local CBOs and teachers of adult literacy centres were also lauded.
The literacy syllabus taught to the illiterates at the NCHD's literacy centres consists of a set of 4 books that can enable an absolutely illiterate person to read newspaper and write letter in just 90 days.
These four books 'Jugnoo Sabaq' have been tested and published after continuous research of 7 years.