American Praises Pakistanis' Campaign To Banish Illiteracy

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28053, 22 August 1956, Page 3

American Praises Pakistanis' Campaign To Banish Illiteracy

Intensely aware of the need to extend education, the people of Pakistan were setting about the task of developing their universities and schools, and were making a big effort to wipe out illiteracy, so that all would have the opportunity of learning at least the rudiments of education, said Mr Wallace McClurg, in an interview in Christchurch yesterday. He has recently been lecturing in international law at the University of Dacca, Pakistan, under the Fulbright programme. As a staff member of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, where he was doing research in international and constitutional law. he had found his assignment in Pakistan most rewarding, said Mr McClurg. A long and rich cultural tradition of the land, combined with European and American influence was found in the Pakistan universities, he said. At the University of Dacca, which was founded about 1920, the Vice-Chan-cellor was Dr. Walter A. Jenkins, a distinguished British educator. His association with the university dated back to the years before the country’s break with India. The British university system of education was clearly evident in the way in which this university was organised. said Mr McClurg. Many

Pakistani teachers there had graduated from English universities, though some had come from American universities. “Among the students I found a great desire to make Pakistan a great nation and they were doing their best to bring this about.” he said. The new Federal Constitution of Pakistan, which came into force in March of this year, could eventually affect Government law-making of all kinds. Mr McClurg said. The adoption of the new constitution would have a stabilising and progressive effect on national life. Pakistan needed the friendship of other nations, he said, and this could be brought about by international education exchanges, and by visits of sports teams from other countries. He tour of the New Zealand cricket team early this year had done much to encourage friendship with the Pakistani people. Mr and Mrs McClurg are now on their way back to the United States by way of Australia and New Zealand. In Victoria, they attended the centenary celebrations of the University of Melbourne. Mrs McClurg, who has found an absorbing interest in the women of the countries she has visited, was formerly a teacher of secretarial science in Bermuda.