Opening up the world, educating girls in Pakistan

Missing out on an education Child-friendly school Changing thinking about girls   Missing out on an education Imagine not being able to read – you could take the wrong medicine, be sold faulty goods or have your money stolen, and you would have difficulty getting a good job and learning new things. It is difficult to learn in crowded schools like this one, but at least these girls are in school. © UNICEF Pakistan/2005/Zaidi Around the world 100 million primary school-age children do not go to school – two-thirds of them are girls. Even those who do attend school may leave before they reach grade five. Poverty, inequality and culture are the main reasons children do not go to school. Parents may be too poor to buy enough food to keep their children healthy, let alone pay school fees and for uniforms and books. Children may also be sick or needed at home to care for younger siblings or grandparents, or they may have to help the family earn an income. Sometimes schools are too far away or very crowded, there are not enough teachers or those who are available might not be well trained or paid. Sometimes teachers themselves may not be at school because they have to earn a living elsewhere. Students may not see the value in what is being taught, or might be treated unfairly or harshly. The education of girls might be seen as against the local culture, which favours boys. In Pakistan in 2002, just over half of school-age children were attending school, and less than three-quarters of boys and girls completed grade five.   Child-friendly school To help more children and particularly girls attend school, UNICEF is working with the Pakistani Government and local communities to create ‘child-friendly’ schools. These schools, built where students live to reduce travel, offer free, quality education in safe, healthy environments for all students, especially girls and disabled children. New teaching methods and smaller classes help children learn. © UNICEF/HQ04-0209/Zaidi More teachers are being trained to teach in more active ways, with less rote learning and without the use of corporal punishment. This helps students learn and develops their confidence, and makes schools happier and safer places. Likewise, smaller class sizes mean that students can learn more easily. In addition, teachers are provided with ongoing teacher training through monthly mentoring programs. A female teacher helps her students. © UNICEF/HQ06-0317/Pirozzi Women are offered scholarships to train as teachers. With more female teachers, schools are better able to teach girls. Female teachers also provide a role model for girls and for other women, and their monthly salary helps their families. Sometimes classes for boys are held in the morning and those for girls in the afternoon. UNICEF’s ‘School in a box’ contains equipment to make learning more interesting. © UNICEF/HQ06-0330/Pirozzi The Pakistani Government is reducing the cost of schooling for parents by supplying free textbooks. UNICEF supplies schools with materials including exercise books, pencils, erasers and scissors, as well as teaching materials like clocks, plastic cubes for counting, posters and coloured paper and paints. Play equipment is provided for active learning. © UNICEF/HQ06-0326/Pirozzi Recreation, play and good nutrition promote students’ health and enhance their ability to concentrate. Schools are supplied with a recreation kit that includes balls for several types of games, coloured tunics for different teams, chalk and a measuring tape for marking play areas and a whistle and scoring slate. Schools are provided with safe, clean toilets. © UNICEF/HQ06-0342/Pirozzi Adequate toilets, including separate toilets for girls and boys, make schools safer and healthier. Parents and community leaders may recognise the health benefits of providing safe water and toilets and begin to build their own facilities. Changing thinking about girls In some parts of Pakistan traditional culture dictates that girls start wearing the burqa, a gown covering them from head to foot, when they are ten. They are expected to stay at home and can go outside only if they are accompanied by a male relative. These rules make attending school very difficult. Teachers explain the school program to parents. © UNICEF/HQ06-0321/Pirozzi Teachers visit parents to help them understand the school program. Parents learn how an education can open up the world for their daughters by teaching them skills that will help them earn an income, avoid being exploited and produce more able and healthier children. The teachers also answer questions and address parents’ concerns in an effort to encourage them to keep their children at school. UNICEF has been actively encouraging communities to change their thinking about the value of educating girls. A cartoon character, Meena, shows girls what they can do. In an amusing way Meena and her pet parrot talk about serious issues such as education, early marriage, and unequal food and workloads. Young girls and boys learn a different way of thinking and behaving. The ‘Fair play for girls’ campaign helps promote Meena’s message of ‘A girl who plays sport remains healthy and sound’. © UNICEF Pakistan/2005/Zaidi Pakistan has made big improvements in educating children. The percentage of school-age children who are enrolled in primary schools rose from 46% in 1990–91 to 58% by 2005-06. The percentage of those enrolled who reached grade 5 rose from 50% to 79% (male: 82%; female: 76%) during the same period. There is ongoing work to improve schools in rural areas and to promote changes in attitudes to educating girls. Sources: UNICEF Photo essay: http://www.unicef.org/photoessays/35569.html 2005 Pakistan Millennium Development Report: http://www.undg.org/documents/5593-Pakistan_MDG_Report.doc Going further Try the four Brainteasers – exploring difficult decisions about providing schools and education for girls. http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/education/712_973.html