KARACHI:
Education plays an important role in shaping one’s life and career. The importance of education in human life cannot be over-emphasised. Education not only opens employment opportunities in one’s life but also makes one more civilised. Besides, education also develops a society socially and economically. According to Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, access to education is a fundamental right for children aged 5-15 years.
However, in rural areas, there are many challenges that make acquiring education more and more troublesome. While there is already a shortage of schools in rural areas, lack of proper transportation discourages students to enrol in schools located far-off. Inadequate infrastructure and lack of even basic facilities also have a negative impact in the context. There is also a shortage of teachers. One teacher often has to handle a large class consisting of a huge numbers of students. In addition, teachers in rural areas face challenges in terms of transportation, housing and communication, which affect their overall performance and well-being.
While the authorities need to focus on all the mentioned issues, the most important of it all is to give the teachers their due. Teachers should be encouraged to work in rural areas by offering a higher salary, providing housing or transportation facilities and offering other incentives. There is also the need to improve teacher training programmes and make them more accessible to people in rural areas. This helps ensure that teachers have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality education. Collaborating with organisations that focus on education can also help in recruiting and training teachers for rural areas. By implementing these measures, we can work to improve quality of education in rural areas.
Naseer Ahmed
Sukkur
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2024.
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