Role of Distance Education in promoting Access in Pakistan

Abstract

The right to education is a fundamental human right directed to the development of
individual capabilities. It empowers individuals and enables them to exercise all human rights
and to overcome the miseries of their lives. According to UNESCO “as an empowerment right,
education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalized adults and
children can lift themselves out of poverty, and obtain the means to participate fully in their
communities.” Therefore, it is the responsibility of the state or country to provide the right to
education along with other basic human rights to every citizen. Pakistan is a developing country
with a high illiteracy rate and with low resources. Currently, the literacy rate of Pakistan is 54
percent : 65.25% for men, and 41.75% for women. The urban (71% overall, 78% for men, and
62% for women) and rural (44% overall, 58% for men, and 29% for women) literacy rates
indicate the alarming situation of the rural population particularly that of women, which
comprise 49% of the total population. Similarly, the participation rate in primary education is
only 52% ; of which the retention rate at grade-3 is 78% (83.5% for girls, and 75% for boys).
Similarly, the participation rate at primary level is only 52% of which the retention rate up to
grade-3 is 78% (83.5% for girls and 75% for boys). About half the total population is deprived
of the basic right to education. The formal system of education cannot cope with the high
demands for education. The Government of Pakistan aims to provide equal opportunities of
education at all levels, and efforts are being made to achieve this through formal and nonformal distance education. Allama Iqbal Open University is providing ‘Education for All’
through distance education from basic (functional) literacy to higher education (PhD) level. The
student enrolment at this university during 2005-06 was 704,502, in 1200 courses. O these,
64% were in rural areas, and 52% were female. These trends indicate that Allama Iqbal Open
University is promoting the right to education at all levels irrespective of location and gender.