Balochistan portrays a dismal picture as far as women’s education is concerned. You! takes a look…
education
When it comes to natural resources, Balochistan is the richest province but when it comes to education Balochistan lags far behind. According to UNICEF, only 27 per cent women go to schools as compared to men’s literacy rate of 33 per cent. Balochistan has eight divisions along with thirty-six districts carrying an extreme number of girls out of school.
Khairabad in focus: Khairabad is a far-flung area, situated in the east of Balochistan, where the female literacy rate is very low. There are a number of factors which have impeded the education of females including poverty, lack of schools, lack of teachers, no facilities of washroom, early marriages, etc. Since there is no women’s college in Khairabad, a lot of girls cannot study further after matriculation. However, a majority of people are poor, they cannot afford to send their daughters for higher education to other cities.
Sammi, a resident of Khairabad, was keen to continue her education after matriculation but couldn’t as her parents were unable to send her to another city. “Since my childhood, it was my dream to make my career but all my dreams have been shattered because there is no college in our vicinity,” laments Sammi.
The issue of early marriages: In Balochistan, usually, girls marry off at an early age, a practice that forbids girls from studying further. According to a report, Makran has the highest number of early marriages with 23 per cent and Nasirabad carries 22 per cent of early marriages, making it second highest on the list.
Iqra is one of the many girls who quit their education because of early marriage. “I was pressurised by my parents to get married though I wanted to study further,” elucidates Iqra. “I tried to continue my studies but my husband did not allow me to do so. This early marriage system washes away dreams of us (girls) to achieve something in life,” sighs Iqra.
Long distances – another obstacle: In most villages in Balochistan, a large number of women are deprived of education due to the lack of schools in their areas. The schools are at long distances which make it hard for women to go there. According to statistics, a primary school almost appears after every 30 kilometres in Balochistan; a middle school after every 260 kilometres and a high school after every 369 kilometres.
Life for girls in Hoshab, a sub-Tehsil of District Kech, East of Makran, is tough. Girls cover a distance of 17 kilometres to reach school. Since there is no transportation, it’s a task for girls to go on foot. It is also unsafe for young girls. So, many a time, they have to cease their education and engage themselves in home chores unwillingly.
Secondly, in remote villages the mindset is backward and there is little perception of education for girls. In some villages, they are completely banned from going to schools.
Lack of facilities: In most schools of Balochistan, there is shortage of teachers. Usually, teachers are reluctant to go to remote villages for teaching. Apart from scarcity of teachers, there is no proper toilet system. According to a report, four out of every five schools in Balochistan, are without washrooms, which are essential for girls in emergencies.
Extremism: In Dera Bugti and Panjgur districts of Balochistan, women are left out of schools by religious extremists who completely forbid educating women. Institutions with co-education were even targeted and threatened to be closed. A school van was burnt on its way to school, and then the school was attacked. After this incident, the school remained closed for an indefinite period with an elimination of a teacher who was promoting women education in the region.
The writer is a student at Law College Turbat and can be reached at muneebmaqsood112@gmail.com.
