Pakistan’s state of education: Nearly three-quarters of girls not in school
Report says women are being denied their basic right to education and to a decent life.
ISLAMABAD:
Nearly three quarters of young Pakistani girls are not enrolled in primary school and the number of those finishing five years in education has declined, a new UN and government report showed on Wednesday.
The findings expose the miserable state of education in Pakistan, where the Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai in the head in October to silence her campaign for the right to an education.
“Nearly half of the primary school age children are not enrolled and among eligible girls the out-of-school proportion is closer to three-quarters. In absolute numbers, out-of-school girls outnumber their male counterparts,” the report stated.
It also said that “completion rates of the fifth year of schooling have actually declined in the past five years.” Furthermore, fifty-five percent of all Pakistani adults are illiterate and among women the rate is closer to 75 percent.
The report said women are denied their basic right to education and to a decent life.
“Females in Pakistan face discrimination, exploitation and abuse at many levels, starting with girls who are prevented from exercising their basic rights to education either because of traditional family practices, economic necessity or as a consequence of the destruction of schools by militants.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2012.
Nearly three quarters of young Pakistani girls are not enrolled in primary school and the number of those finishing five years in education has declined, a new UN and government report showed on Wednesday.
The findings expose the miserable state of education in Pakistan, where the Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai in the head in October to silence her campaign for the right to an education.
“Nearly half of the primary school age children are not enrolled and among eligible girls the out-of-school proportion is closer to three-quarters. In absolute numbers, out-of-school girls outnumber their male counterparts,” the report stated.
It also said that “completion rates of the fifth year of schooling have actually declined in the past five years.” Furthermore, fifty-five percent of all Pakistani adults are illiterate and among women the rate is closer to 75 percent.
The report said women are denied their basic right to education and to a decent life.
“Females in Pakistan face discrimination, exploitation and abuse at many levels, starting with girls who are prevented from exercising their basic rights to education either because of traditional family practices, economic necessity or as a consequence of the destruction of schools by militants.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2012.