More than five decades have passed since Pakistan achieved independence from India. Still, Pakistan remains a backward country because more than eighty percent of Pakistan’s population is illiterate. Pakistan is not a vast country but its eighty percent population consists of villages, however, to achieve cent percent literacy has not been possible.
After independence, there has been a considerable increase in the number of schools and colleges and the number of students who have acquired education in these institutions has also increased tremendously. However, most of our people are still illiterate and they can not afford to send their children to school. There is extreme poverty and also lack of awareness about the importance of education. There is a slow increase in the rate of literacy.
Many programmes were launched to educate the adults of our country. The need and importance of adult’s education was, therefore, felt immediately after independence. These programmes aimed at making the illiterate masses of Pakistan aware of the value of education. Teachers were sent to the homes of the learners, incentives were given to the learners who have explained the importance of education. The help of highly dedicated persons was sought to implement such programmes of adult literacy. Also, the help of radio, T.V. and various village development unions was taken on a large scale to make the programmes a success. People in large numbers came forward to render help to the learners and the learners also cooperated. But unfortunately, the results were not well satisfactory.
There is, however no doubt that the Adult Education programmes have borne some fruit. Many people in cities and villages have taken advantage to some extent of it. Some people living in villages are now able to write their names and read bits of Urdu because to educate eighty percent of the total population of the country is not an easy job. But contrary to the people of villages, people in cities have taken full advantage of such programs, they are now able to read newspapers and keep their personal accounts. Illiteracy can be eradicated by coups educating new and old generations both. Though such programmes have not been able to gain much popularity among the masses of the countryside, the results have not been very disappointing. Pakistan really needs Adult Education Movement. It can certainly achieve massive success if the government and non-government bodies come forward and extend their wholehearted support.
