The targets of improving literacy and non-formal education in the country cannot be achieved without improving economic lot and giving due respect and status to teachers in the society.
This was upshot of speeches delivered by representatives of teachers' community at a function organised by All Pakistan Teachers Federation here at Government Community High School, Mozang on Friday to mark the 'International Literacy Day' observed under the auspices of United Nations across the world including Pakistan with the theme of "Literacy sustains development".
Addressing the function, Chairman All Pakistan Teachers Federation, Mohammad Azam Butt said that around 50,000 teachers having qualification of MA/B.Ed. who were appointed on contract basis were getting meager salary of Rs 4,250 each. How a teacher can make his both ends meet in such a meager salary, he questioned.
He disclosed that computer education has been made compulsory at school level in the province but neither computer has been provided nor any teacher having computer know how has so far been appointed. He maintained that there was no consistency in education and examination policies. Apart from this, teachers are not consulted before drafting education and examination policies.
Criticising the government for winding up Directorate of Staff Development in Education Department, he said that this directorate was imparting training to a teacher at Rs 700 per month but now the government has given contract to Beacon House, City School and Ali Institute which are getting Rs 47,000 per teacher from government for imparting training to a teacher. He termed this exercise as mere wastage of national wealth.
Azam Butt further said that there are over 50 million illiterates in the country and results-oriented steps are required to achieve the goal of 100 percent literacy rate by 2015.
Other speakers including Chaudhry Taj Haider, Salim Malik, Professor Nazim Hasnain, Waheed Ahmad, Shagufta Noureen and Abdur Rashid Bhatti in their speeches pointed out difficulties being faced by teachers' community. They were of the consensus view that for improving literacy rate in the country, it is necessary to involve teachers in decision making process. They demanded putting an end to political intervention in government schools and assigning unnecessary duties to teachers.
Moreover, State Minister for Education, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli while addressing a function held in connection with International Literacy Day in Lahore said that the targets of improving literacy and non-formal education in the country would be achieved by sustainable and co-ordinated efforts of all the tiers of government from district to federal levels.
Anisa was optimistic that the target of 100 percent compulsory universal primary enrolment will be achieved by the year 2015. She said that just and equitable utilisation of resources and corruption free culture has been provided at strategic and higher level in education sector.
She said the federal and provincial joint education forum is playing an active role towards improving literacy rate in the country. The forum is presenting a comprehensive course of action for making co-ordinated efforts by district, provincial and federal governments, she added.
She praised the Punjab government for allocating higher percentage of its resources for education as compared to other provinces. Other speakers said that education is a critical foundation for poverty alleviation and economic growth.