Participants said the first leader who realised the importance of education was Pir Roshan, a warrior, poet and Sufi from the Ormur tribe. In the early sixteenth century, he established schools for boys and girls.
PHOTO: COMPFIGHT.COM
PESHAWAR: A large number of Pukhtuns have failed to prioritise education due to a series of social and cultural factors.
This was shared at a seminar titled ‘Each one should teach one’ organised by Poha Foundation at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday. The event was aimed at understanding the cause of illiteracy in the province. It was attended by a large number of students and civil society representatives.
Speaking on the occasion, Poha Foundation’s executive director, Shafeeq Gigyani, said the organisation planned to launch a mass literacy and education programme in 2015.
“We want to engage all stakeholders and make an effort to promote education,” he said. “The programme encourages Pukhtuns leaders and intellectuals to teach the underprivileged who do not have the opportunity to get [a formal] education.”
According to the executive director, a large number of Pukhtuns who want to go to school frequently face opposition from society. “We now need to put aside these barriers and take advantage of all opportunities to learn,” he said.
Ibrahim Aiengar, the education programme’s chief campaigner, urged leaders and intellectuals to work towards the uplift of education among Pukhtuns.
“Politicians, businessmen, journalists and students should teach Pukhtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he added.
During the seminar, participants drew upon history to determine some of the major reasons why Pukhtuns have ignored the importance of education. They said several rulers in the past had made a conscious effort to educate people. However, they have repeatedly faced opposition from miscreants and religious extremists, they added.
Participants said the first leader who realised the importance of education was Pir Roshan, a warrior, poet and Sufi from the Ormur tribe. In the early sixteenth century, he established schools for boys and girls. However, he was vehemently criticised by Mughal rulers for flouting religious precepts.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2014.
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We demand from the state to encourage and finance such type of youth who work to educate the society . If there is two or three religious madrassas can work in a village why schools are more than one are not possible. We need a technical and scientifically education in our village base on equal base . men and women no gender discrimination. We fully support and trust on Poha Foundation and thier work.