Quest for knowledge: Girls being forced to study at boys’ school
Shehrnaz Bibi is sceptical about her future, as her parents will not allow her to attend college far from home.
“I have made up my mind that I will learn to cook and help my mother with household chores, just like other girls in the village. My parents will marry me off one day and I will spend the rest of my life as a housewife,” she dejectedly told The Express Tribune during a visit to Government Boys’ High School in Jabb, a hilly area 55 kilometres from Khanpur.
The school, which was established as a primary school in 1958, was upgraded to a middle school in 1976 and later to a high school in 1980. It was originally meant to cater to a population of 30,000 people belonging to eight villages, including Jabb.
(Read: Female illiteracy - 41% of Pakistani girls fail to complete primary school)
However, since the village does not have any educational institute for girls, the local authorities allowed the admission of female secondary school students in the boys’ school.
“Currently, there are 35 girls studying in both 9th and 10th grade. The overall strength of the school is 222,” said Mehboobur Rehman, the school’s head teacher.
He explained that even though the school was primarily built for boys, upon local people’s request, the education department allowed girls to study here till matriculation level.
“We are a conservative society and we don’t allow young girls to mix with boys. However, since there is no high school for girls, we are left with only two options; either stop them from going to school, or face ‘humiliation’, as we are facing now,” said Raja Babar, a notable of the area. He said he had taken up the matter with the MPA and officials of the education department on several occasions, but has yet to receive any positive response from them.
The school’s parents teachers’ committee chairperson Abdul Majid Qazi said that the committee has taken up the matter with the district coordination officer, showing their willingness to arrange classes in two extra rooms at the school.
“I want to be a pilot and fly in the air, but how is it possible when the government has not constructed a separate high school for girls, even after six and half decades,” said 9th grade student Gulnaz.
The girls also complained that they were not allowed to opt for science subjects, even though many of them were highly interested in studying them.
“I want to become a doctor and serve my poor community, but the school administration does not allow us to opt for science subjects, as there is no science teacher for girls and no laboratories in the school,” said 10th grade student Sadaf.
“Although girls work harder than boys and excel in board examinations every year, they are barred from taking science subjects,” she added.
However, Rehman explained that the school had only one post for a science teacher, and even that has been lying vacant for several years. In order to facilitate the students, he himself took the science classes.
It was also observed that the school lacks basic facilities such as washrooms, a library, a playground, indoor game equipment, potable water, and a science laboratory.
Neelam Raja, another student, said the girls find it very awkward that they cannot step out of the classroom, even during break time. “Since there are no washrooms in the building, even for boys, students have to go to a nearby mosque,” she added.
Raja Javed, a retired teacher and a notable of the area, explained that the school is not owned by the education department, which is a major factor behind the lack of development. “Under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, the school property belongs to local land owners,” explained Javed.
Former Pind Kamal Khan Union Council nazim Malik Rashid Awan explained that a higher secondary school for boys consisting of four rooms was built three years back at a cost of Rs7.5 million. However, it has still not been commissioned for reasons unknown.
Meanwhile, Education Executive District Officer Riaz Khan Swati said that he would take up the matter with the provincial government and do his best to have a separate high school for girls set up.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS (4)
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Sad. But should admire the determination of these girls.
Whether a separate school for boys and girls is needed is an age old arguments throughout the world.
I am a proponent of separate school for girls beginning at the middle school level. At this age, the boys in the class tend to dominate in class discussions, and slowly the girls tend to withdraw from challenging the boys as they move on. The schools tend to focus more on boys activities due to increased participation of boys as compared to girls in sports, drama, debate, etc.
In an all girls school the girls do not sucuumb to the natural male dominance in class and they do bring out their potential. At the time of their leaving secondary school their personalities are well established.
Even in US certain school districts either have a separate school or separate class for girls within the same school compound. Of course it involves allocating more resources, that is where the problem comes.
In the parts of the world where cultural and religious sentiments are deep rooted, separate school for girls is an added bonus but the primary outcome is the independent thinking of girls free of their peer male dominance in school.
All said, girls education is a fundamental wealth of a nation. All nations of the world prospered when women are educated. Eg. In modern history: Turkey, China, India, Iran etc.
PAK has to make a strong policy decision as to what kind of nation they want to build after failing for 60 years.
If everyone in PAK does not identify their daughter with these girls sufferings then there is a problem.
............................... Mr. Cyclon I partially agree with you but we need to respect some on culture as well as it might be there culture to be separated from boys in the school.
Its a matter of great concern to me that none of the MEDIA MEMBERS are talking about the public problems and Inevitability coz it won't help MEDIA to get better ratings.
Every TV channels/Newspapers always talk about these dirty people (Politicians) and their plans for separation/inclusion in the Govt. every night I watch NEWS CHANNELS.
Did any TV channel talked about CORRUPTIONS? EDUCATIONS, PLANS & ITS BUDGET ? HEALTH PLANS & BUDGET? SOCIAL PLANS 7 BUDGET?
We as a nation been known as corrupted now everywhere. Like USA said our price is one bottle.
COMMON MEDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CAN HELP IS IN CHANGING THESE........ .......................
Will she work in a women only hospital where all the staff and patients are women?.. The more interaction between girls and boys at a young age will lead to less cases of rape and sexual assault in the long run.
Why in the world would some one suggest separate schools? Pakistan is NOT Saudi Arabia; there is no need for gender apartheid. Stop using religion and culture to hold back progress of children.
They are in for a real surprise when they enter the real world and they see that both men and women mix not because its sexual or they're fornicating as many assume from this type of mentality but because their jobs require team work.
You can judge a country, society, culture and religion by how it treats its women. This article isn't a good sign.
How can you expect females to excel in life when stupidity of gynophobia won't allow them to? I shake my head in disbelief.