100% enrolment too much to hope for?

FAISALABAD:

Mornings at a primary school for boys in district Faisalabad begin with students sweeping the floor and sprinkling water to ensure the dust settles.

The school has no boundary wall, toilets or clean drinking water including other basic facilities and students sit on the floor without a mat. Javeria, the only woman at the school, which has 86 students and three teachers, teaches all classes from nursery to Grade 5. It takes her almost 10 kilometres to reach the school, but her passion for education keeps her going. “I went to all houses in the village to convince parents to send their children to school.” Javeria said. Unfortunately, however, she was not too successful. “Due to a lack of basic infrastructure and facilities, it is very difficult to convince parents to send their children to school,” she added. Moreover, most parents need their children to support the family and make both ends meet. “How can a poverty-ridden population ever ensure 100% enrolment in schools?” Javeria said. “Around 80% students come to school barefooted and cannot afford a uniform.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th,  2011.