Speakers see Pakistan’s future bleak without girls’ education

Islamabad, April 19, 2011 (PPI): Pakistani campaigners, political figures, national civil society organisations and international NGOs said on Tuesday that the future of the country depended on its ability to deliver education to the country’s children, particularly girls.

Participants gathered at a conference in Islamabad organised by Oxfam and Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) and support by Dubai Cares entitled; “Empowerment Through Girls Education in Contemporary Muslim Societies”.

The passing of the 18th amendment to the constitution has changed the dynamics of the education sector in Pakistan. Education is no longer a privilege but a fundamental right for all children in Pakistan.

Neva Khan, Oxfam’s country director for Pakistan outlined the importance of addressing education in Pakistan. “Education -for girls in particular - is key to building economies and overcoming social problems,” Khan told guests. Khan added that “ Pakistan and other Muslim societies could learn from each others’ experiences”.

Chief guest, Peer Mazhar ul Haq, the education minister of the Sindh government, said that although there had been some achievements, much needed to be done.

“It’s high time the government prioritised education and allotted more funds to it,” he said. He added that provincial bodies and civil society needed to be empowered to raise the level of education services.

“We should start campaigns at the grass roots level - In rural areas in particular - to improve access and address barriers to education for girls,” he added.

Zaleha Abdul Hamid, Assistant Director, Educational Planning and Research Division, Ministry of Education, Malaysia, explained that the government’s spending of 15.4 percent of its GDP on education - compared to Pakistan’s less than 2 percent - reflected its political will to educate its children - boys and girls.

Poet and writer Harris Khalique addressed the issue of religious extremism, which he said could be countered by empowering women through education. “What is happening in Muslim societies is a grave disservice to Islam,” he told the audience.

Former head of Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology, Dr Khalid Masud, said education was seen as a “transfer of information” rather than a process of “intellectual development”. To change this approach, he said the public needed to be empowered so that political figures were forced to justify and defend their policies to the public.

Dr. A H Nayyar from Pakistan’s Ali Institute of Education made the point that whereas donors could provide some funds, the responsibility to provide the vast majority of resources lies with the government itself.

The two-day event will result in a set of policy recommendations that will help chart a way forward for Pakistani civil society and supporters seeking to secure the country’s future.