press releases
Pakistani Leaders Participate In The White House Conference On Global Literacy
09/19/2006
Islamabad – First Lady Laura Bush was delighted to welcome Mrs. Musharraf and Pakistani Federal Education Minister Lt. Gen. Javed Ashraf (rtd.) to the first-ever White House Conference on Global Literacy that she hosted yesterday in New York City. The Conference highlighted and complemented a host of activities the U.S. Government supports around the world to give people the unique access to knowledge afforded by literacy.
The Conference was the culmination of Mrs. Bush's visits to many countries around the world where she witnessed the power of literacy to improve lives, especially for women and girls. In support of other national decision makers worldwide, the White House Conference on Global Literacy showcased initiatives now underway in developing countries with high illiteracy rates. These efforts include some of the work that the U.S. government pursues in close cooperation with national governments, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and private/local entities around the world.
In Pakistan, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported literacy and educational strengthening efforts since 2002, working closely with district assemblies and the national government. In particular, USAID has established 2,873 adult literacy centers countrywide; already 17,850 men and women have completed training and an additional 69,214 adults are currently enrolled in literacy classes.
In addition, USAID’s $40 million program supporting basic education—only part of USAID’s larger education effort—has provided for teacher training, school improvement and construction, and adult literacy centers. Training primary school teachers and administrators has helped introduce appropriate teaching methodologies and improved school management practices. Part of a grant-based program is upgrading school infrastructure ranging from new classroom, library, and playground construction to improved water and sanitation facilities at 8,000 schools by the end of 2006. USAID is building 65 schools in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and another 50 in the earthquake-affected areas of the Northwest Frontier Province.
In all, the United States, through USAID, is providing more than $1.5 billion in development assistance to Pakistan over the next five years to improve education, health, governance and economic growth. In addition, the United States has pledged a total of $510 million in earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts to assist the people of Pakistan and to support Pakistani government relief and reconstruction efforts.
In connection with the event, on September 15 Mrs. Bush announced the launch of the White House Conference on Global Literacy website: http://www.globalliteracy.gov. Videos of conference presentations will be hosted on the website, in addition to partner websites, photo galleries, and Conference news and speeches in four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.