Loss of hope: Female education on the backburner in Buner

Enrolment rate of boys higher despite larger girl population.

PESHAWAR: Considering the ratio of female to male population in Buner, the number of schools and other educational facilities for girls is significantly low.

According to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department documents available with The Express Tribune, “There are 779 schools in Buner out of which 559 are for boys and 220 for girls. At the primary level, there are 172 schools for girls, 25 at the middle level and only 19 at the higher secondary level.” Furthermore, 80% of the development funds are allocated for boys schools while only 20% is reserved for girls schools.



Talking to The Express Tribune over the telephone, Gulzar Babak, a resident of Buner, said, “Over the years, more importance has been given to boys schools which has resulted in a biased and disproportionate distribution of resources and infrastructure.”

Babak said despite clear policy objectives of the K-P government to focus on primary education, most of the education budget in the district and in the province is diverted to secondary education. “The primary sector receives only 50% of the actual budget allocated for it and also has a dearth of teachers,” he said, adding around two teachers manage every school which affects the quality of education.

Moreover, due to the lack of proximity of secondary and higher secondary schools, girls only enrol in primary schools and then drop out. “More schools of the higher levels should be built in villages so the girls can continue their education,” Babak said.

Changing the course

The current government has decided to allocate 70% of infrastructure funding for girls schools in order to rectify the historical failure on part of previous governments. Talking to The Express Tribune over the telephone, Buner District Education Officer Hanifur Rehman said he had demanded 700 new openings for teachers at girls schools while the government approved only 317 posts which will be advertised very soon.



“At least Rs265 million has been transferred to the Parent Teacher Councils and approval for the construction of 241 additional rooms in schools along with sanitation, toilets and boundary walls has also been given,” said the Rehman.

Another Buner DEO Rabia Anees said the mountainous terrain makes it difficult for girls to navigate their way to school. “However, parents are becoming more aware and have begun laying emphasis on educating their daughters.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2015.