Sir: According to the 2011 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme, approximately twice as many males as females receive secondary education in Pakistan, and the public expenditure on education amounts to only 2.7 percent of the GDP of the country. Poverty is also a big hurdle to girls’ education. According to UNICEF, 17.6 percent of Pakistani children are working and supporting their families. Indeed, child labour is a common issue in Pakistan.
Pakistan is a Muslim country where Islam is a dominant religion. In the country, about 96 percent population is Muslim. According to the Islamic teachings, it is obligatory for every man and woman to get education. This clearly states that women should receive education. In our society, coeducation is not accepted even in primary schools. Family and parents do not allow their girls to study at coeducation schools due to several reasons.
The government has failed to take measures to provide separate schools and classrooms for girls. Girls in rural areas have to face many cultural and social problems. One of the most deplorable aspects is that at some places, particularly northern tribal areas, the education of girls is strictly prohibited on religious grounds. Our government should take strict measures to introduce positive reforms in the education sector. We should spread awareness among people that both males and females have equal rights regarding an access to education.
SYED SAAD ALI
Karachi