Literacy Trends in Pakistan - UNESCO Islamabad

Table 7 below indicates the highest variance (398.27), and range (62.52) of female literacy in the Sindh province while the same values are thelowest for the province of Balochistan, with variance being (23.231) and range (19.93).Table - 7Various statistical measures of Female literacy in Pakistan in 1998 (Age 10+)Area Number of Range * Mean Standard VarianceDistrictsDeviationPunjab 34 49.31 35.10 (57.20) 12.09 146.316Sindh 21 62.52 34.78 (54.50) 19.96 398.279N.W.F.P. 24 36.13 18.82 (51.39) 9.55 91.178Balochistan 26 19.33 14.09 (34.03) 4.88 23.23All Pakistan 105 71.69 31.58 (54.43) 14.99 224.567* Difference between literacy rates of two districts – one with highest and the other with lowest literacy rate.Note: Figures in Parenthesis in column of Mean indicates the male literacy rate.The above Table 7 shows a wide range of disparity in the literacy rate for males and females. It provides the reader with a regional coverage ofthe districts and a systematic look at the conditions of women.Rural women are an important component in the complex process of rural development in Pakistan. There is a growing realization on the part ofthe government that the participation of girls and women, who constitute half the population, is essential for any planned and rapid progress inall the districts of Pakistan.20