KARACHI: Sindh is celebrating International Literacy Day 2014 with a net enrolment rate of 52 percent in its primary schools, 19 percent in middle schools and 12 percent in high schools.
This is in a scenario where Literacy is universally accepted to be the key for building up democratic society and sustainable development.
According to statistics, 56 percent of boys and 42 percent girls are attending primary schools whereas 20 percent of boys and 18 percent girls are enrolled in middle schools followed by 13 percent girls and 11 percent boys of the province supposedly attending high schools.
This again negates the objectives set under UNESCO that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning.
Literacy, the ability to read and write, enables the human beings to access new sources of information, express their own point of view and understand others point of view.
In literate societies, reading habits among their citizens are stronger, and frequency of reading newspapers, magazines, and books is much higher than the nations with low levels of literacy. In other words, literacy increases exposure, widens world view of the readers, and brings people closer to each other.
In most cases, internal armed conflicts around the globe emerge among less literate regions or less educated population groups.
Literate and educated people tend to be more tolerant to difference of opinions and prefer to resolve their differences through dialogue and accommodating each others point of view.
Hence, literacy facilitates peace, harmony, and common understanding among various population groups, communities, societies and nations.
In accordance with Article 26 of United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) basic education is a fundamental human right, and literacy is the first step towards basic education.
Literacy is a tool for personal development and social empowerment. This has now become an established fact that access to educational opportunities largely depends on literacy skills.
Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy.
UNESCO has been supporting and leading the observance of International Literacy Day since 1966.
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