A large number of girls are deprived of education in rural areas of Pakistan due to poverty, discrimination, childhood marriage, violence in school, emergencies and cultural factors. Education is the basic right of every child. It provides knowledge and exposure needed to lead a successful life. Many girls, who are enrolled in the school initially, drop out for one reason or the other. It is estimated that 49 per cent of girls drop out from the school between grades 1 and 5.
A report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) last year revealed that about 32 million girls of primary school age and 29 million girls of lower secondary school age were not getting education because of the problems they face. They belong to poor families that have limited food to eat and meagre source of income to survive.
Like any child, girls have high hopes and dreams for their future. The government must take appropriate measures for the education of girls, and criminalise the obsolete customs and traditions that bar them from acquiring education.
NIZAKAT ALI
KHAIRPUR
