Female refugees make it to Pak schools

Figures show more than 30% of Afghan refugee students are female

PESHAWAR:

Born in Nasir Bagh refugee village, Jamila* thought she would never make it to a university. After all, she belongs to a refugee family in another country. But the 20-year-old student stood up and confronted all challenges.

“My family struggled after my uncle was gunned down by the Taliban in Afghanistan,” she said. Jamila said he was the sole breadwinner for the entire family.

“Education wasn’t a priority for my community, but my father encouraged me and my sister to study. He understood the value of education,” she said.

Her journey started at a state-owned school, where she passed every exam with flying colors. Determinized to change her destiny, Jamila took part in a contest by a scholarship program, sponsored by a European donor. Jamila passed the test and is now enrolled at a business school affiliated with the University of Peshawar.

Jamila is one of the 55,000 students who are now enrolled at different educational institutions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Defying all odds, female afghan refugees in Pakistan are still making their dreams come true. According to details available with the Express Tribune, more than 30% of all refugee students who are still enrolled at educational institutions are female.

Officials at the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees say over 1,300 applications of Afghan refugee students are sent to different colleges and universities annually.

“We have two seats at each university and five seats at technical colleges reserved for Afghan refugees,” said Ihsanullah Khan, Project Director at the Commissionerate.

Most students, the project director said, prefer enrolling at medical and engineering universities.

According to Qaiser Afridi, UNHCR’s spokesperson in Pakistan, funding provided by donors helps the refugee community. “It allows deserving Afghan refugee students to study and fulfil their dreams,” said Afridi.

Apart from Jamila*, the UNHCR spokesperson said, more than 1,900 other students are being supported. Under the scholarship, students also receive funding for preparatory and language classes. Afridi said most students in this program are between the ages of 19 and 30.

The award, he said, covers the cost of tuition, course material, and boarding. Some students also receive a separate allowance for transport.

According to UNHCR, Pakistan is home to more than 1.4 million registered Afghans who have been forced to flee their homes.

Details available on the refugee agency’s website claim it has helped some 54,000 children to enroll in primary schools this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2020.