19 May 2009
In Pakistan, the rate of literacy for women is significantly lower than that of men. While younger generations of girls have benefited from policies that have allowed them to attend school in greater numbers than previously, older women are still disadvantaged when it comes to formal education.
High levels of illiteracy among women negatively impact social and economic development, gender equality, and women’s progress in poor communities.
The European Commission's Northern Pakistan education programme has provided non-formal to disadvantaged children and adults, particularly women.
As a result of newly-acquired or improved reading skills, mothers were better able to assist their children with homework and became more actively involved in their children’s school. Additional benefits of the literacy centres included the development of close friendships among the women participants, as well as an increased awareness of human rights.
The literacy centres initially targeted 13,457 women to participate in their services, but in the end, they assisted 19 461 women at 368 centres in northern Pakistan.
The European Commission provided €20 million for the entire education programme, designating €240 000 for non-formal education from 2003 to 2008.
Key facts:
- The European Commission spends 6 per cent of its €114 billion budget on development assistance for poorer countries outside Europe.
- The UK contributes 17 per cent of the European Commission’s budget. Of our 2006/7 contribution, £964 million went towards international development.
- DFID is the UK department responsible for working with other EU member states and the European Commission to make sure our contribution is well used in the fight against world poverty.
- Education in Pakistan compares extremely poorly with that in countries of similar per capita income.
- Half of Pakistan’s population is illiterate, including two-thirds of the women. The net enrolment rate in primary schools is now 56%, with a very high drop-out rate and low transition to secondary education. It is estimated that at least 6 million school-age children do not attend primary school at all.
- DFID is increasing its support to the education sector by £250 million until 2013. This will help the government to expand access, improve quality and strengthen the governance of basic education, as well as provide vocational training and skills development.
- Other examples of working through the European Commission: improving primary education in Bangladesh, water and sanitation in Uganda and immunisation in Nigeria.
