LIFE is tough for many poor girls in Sindh. Poverty often keeps them at home. If a girl convinces her family to send her to school, she often cannot join it because either women teachers are not available or there is no school at all in her village.
Even if a girl begins primary school education, she often doesn’t have the support she needs to continue high school studies or college education. Many girls are married when they are only 15, while several die during pregnancy due to lack of healthcare services.
It is vital to educate girls. This will also help in achieving a higher literacy rate. Educated girls can become breadwinners for their families and supplement income. They, in turn, will become better mothers and help raise a healthy and civilised nation.
It is time the government focused on girls’ education for a better and prosperous society.
WASIM ABRO
Islamabad
Teachers being ignored
THIS is apropos of the letter ‘Teachers being ignored’ (Jan 21). Teaching is one of the noblest and most respected occupations in the world. Unfortunately, the case is different in our society, neglecting the plight of teachers remains a common word in our backward society. A question arises as to who should be blamed for this reason: teachers, society or the government.
Our teachers, on the other hand, consider teaching a business instead of their duty. Our government doesn’t pay attention to boost their salaries and to provide incentives for teaching.
Our society doesn’t show any respect to teachers due to the fact that education is considered at the lower rung of priorities while no conducive learning environment is provided in society.
The government must promote quality education, and teachers must come up to the expectations of the nation.
ALTAF SAKHI
Turbat, Balochistan
Initiative needed
AFTER campaigns by the government and private organisations, there has been some increase in the literacy rate. But we still do not have an impressive rate of literacy because of a rapid increase in population.
Surprisingly, education has never been a priority. As a matter of fact, due to low funding and lack of will, a large number of people in Pakistan still have little access to basic education.
The government should ensure equal educational opportunities for all.
To make learning interesting, developed countries are promoting the use of computers and latest technologies. But we still lack the vision of educationists such as Henry Barnard or Horace Mann.
Sadly, the children of ministers study in expensive British and American institutions abroad, while we face a dismal education scenario.
It is time the government launched a nationwide initiative to eradicate illiteracy and provide basic education to all.
SHARAN BASHIR
Bolan, Turbat
Lack of basic facilities
THIS is apropos of the news report ‘Girls primary schools lack basic facilities’ (Feb3). The statistics provided by the education monitor of Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) is deplorable and a big cause for worry. In fact, lack of facilities in educational institutions is a pervasive problem encompassing institutions of all tiers.
In Balochistan, most of the government-run degree colleges are deprived of even the most basic of facilities. Clean drinking water is absent, and due to its unavailability of hostel students are forced to lodge outside college campuses.
Buildings of most degree colleges are in dilapidated state and need immediate repairs to avoid any fateful incident(s).
Furthermore, libraries do not have uptodate and modern books, as a result of which students are unable to supplement their studies. No proper arrangements exist for carrying out laboratory work as the essentially required scientific equipment is absent. Education is rightly referred to as the third eye of human beings as it broadens one’s spectrum and vision.
The government must, therefore, prioritise education by providing educational institutions with at least facilities necessary to run an institution smoothly.
SAAD KHOSA
Jafarabad
Source: Dawn
Date:2/8/2011
