Amrat Jumani — a beacon of hope for Thari girls

In the vast, arid lands of Tharparkar live women who are talented and have immense potential to progress - so believes Amrat Jumani, who has dedicated herself to teaching science.

It is her passion for science and teaching, and the willingness to see Tharparkar's women grow that have kept her going despite scarce opportunities.

There are just 13 girls' high schools across the district. Of these, just four have a science laboratory. But even amid these rather bleak circumstances, Amrat refuses to lose hope.

And so, in Tharparkar, Jumani is an odd one out, being one of the few science teachers in the district.

A graduate of the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, she is the only science teacher at three girls' schools in Mithi, namely Government Girls School North Colony, Government Girls School West Colony and Government Girls School Dharmani Colony.

Right before a pandemic-induced lockdown paralysed the entire country, Jumani had spent four months imparting knowledge under the Pak Alliance for Maths and Science, a non-governmental organisation. Moreover, Jumani is a part of 'Champion for Change' - a group comprising 50 women from Tharparkar, focused on educating girls under the Thar Education Alliance.

However, teaching science is not just limited to imparting knowledge for Jumani. It goes beyond that, involving innovation and novelty.

"Teaching is my passion and I believe that using innovative methods to impart knowledge about science can help build students' interest in the subject," she tells The Express Tribune. "Adopting new ways of teaching is imperative to making students understand the subject," she realises. "The old ones are not just potentially confusing, but are also outdated."

The realisation explains her inclination towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four disciplines through an interdisciplinary and applied approach.

A testament to her dedication for teaching science, Thar Education Alliance head Partab Shivani says she also taught voluntarily at three other schools. "In these schools, even teachers attend her classes," he adds.

Shivani, who says he is inspired by the way Jumani teaches, sees her as a "beacon of hope for girls in Tharparkar", where there is a dearth of science teachers.

Confirming the shortage of science teachers, an education department officer, Mohammad Bachal, says there are very few teachers in Tharparkar who are able to teach science properly. "Even boys' schools have an acute shortage of science teachers," he adds. Bachal further states that most girls' schools in the district are located in main cities and there is no girls' high school in remote areas.

"Plus, science and computer laboratories in most schools remain non-functional," he laments.

Keeping in view the situation, he opines, "We need subject specialists [as teachers]. This is the need of the hour."

Hence, acknowledging the importance of teachers like Jumani, Shivani comments, "Without science, we cannot progress in the right direction. We have produced many poets. Now is the time to focus on science, especially educating girls in the subject."

The thought resonates with Jumani.

"Tharparkar's girls are really talented. They want to learn. Give them opportunities, and they will give their best in return," she says with enthusiasm and hope. "I see them occupied by learning the subject," Jumani adds.

Enthralled at the possibility of witnessing these heroines from rural and often low-income backgrounds reach for the stars and doing all in her hands to facilitate them, Jumani continues to shine bright, sharing everything from her pool of knowledge with them.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2020.