Literacy Trends in Pakistan - UNESCO Islamabad

7. FUNCTIONAL LITERACYThe definition of literacy as well as the specific age group of the literate population, for census purposes, kept on changing both at the nationaland international levels. Two definitions of functional literacy are provided below as an example.Functionally literate: is a person “who can with understanding, both read and write a short simple statement on his everydaylife”. (UNESCO. IBE.1976)Another definition of functionally literate person by Gray (1956) is provided below:‘A person is functionally literate when he has acquired the knowledge and skills in reading and writing, which enable him toengage effectively in all those activities in which literacy is normally assumed in his culture or group’.Gray, W.S. The Teaching of Reading and Writing, Paris, UNESCO, 1956. (Monographs on Fundamental Education, X)This definition appears to be very simple and old, however the phrase “every day life” contains the seeds for evolution and transformation. Aslife patterns, including amenities, gadgets, and procedures of transaction etc. change with time, the definition of functional literacy will have tocorrespond to them.8. LEVELS OF FUNCTIONAL LITERACY AND PROGRAMMES IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVEThere are three levels with specific programmes. These are described below:-Basic Level (Level-I)A) TARGET GROUPi) Adults who have never been to school or who have dropped out of school before acquiring literacy skills.ii) Adults unable to read and write simple words, paragraphs or any other type of written statement without the help of ateacher.8