ida Imtiaz, 16, teaches her younger siblings while also pursuing her own studies at home. She secured the first position in the Arts group in the Abbottabad Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education’s SSC exams with 1020 marks.

Speaking to The News on Sunday, Rida seemed to have mixed feelings about her success. While she is proud of her accomplishment, she is also saddened by the plight of many intelligent girls from her area who have had to abandon their education due to the lack of educational institutions.

The schools are located in remote villages scattered around the mountains, which are particularly inaccessible to girls. The middle school is almost four kilometres away from her village. It can take up to 90 minutes to reach it, as the roads are unpaved and in a bedraggled condition. Most parents do not send their daughters that far due to cultural barriers and financial hurdles. This lack of access to secondary and higher secondary schools in these areas forces many girls to abandon their studies.

“Our area is mountainous. The absence of high schools and colleges nearby is a major issue. After primary schools, there are no middle schools for girls here. I come from a poor family; my father is a truck driver. Given our financial situation, I cannot even think about enrolling in a college in Rawalpindi or Abbottabad,” Rida says.

Rida says she hails from Birote Khurd, a remote area in Abbottabad district, where educational opportunities for girls are extremely limited. She says that she has been fortunate to have achieved this success, thanks to her parents’ efforts.

According to Farooq Rialli, the nazim of Birote Khurd village council, one of the primary reasons for the low literacy rate among girls is the shortage of schools. He says that the area is geographically isolated from the district headquarters, which makes it harder for girls to attend school.

“The lack of educational facilities forces girls to abandon their studies early, often leading to early marriages and lives centred on household chores,” he says.

The geographical isolation and poor infrastructure only compound the problem. The mountainous terrain makes it difficult for both students and teachers to reach schools. Cultural norms and financial hardships also discourage many families from sending their daughters to school.

Rida feels both pride and sorrow when reflecting on her success. She is happy that she could excel despite all the challenges, but it saddens her to know that so many bright girls from her area - some of them her class fellows - have to leave their studies because they simply don’t have the opportunity.

“My parents always encouraged me to study, even when things were tough,” she recalls.

Ayesha Saeed, the district education officer of Abbottabad, tells The News on Sunday, the challenges faced by students in the region are known to her. She says they are prioritising the promotion of women’s education.

“The lack of educational facilities forces girls to abandon their studies, often leading to early marriages and lives centred on household chores.”

“The rugged mountainous terrain poses immense challenges not just for the students but also for the teaching staff. Reaching schools is difficult. The lack of standard facilities at many institutions makes it even harder for teachers to perform their duties effectively,” she adds.

Saeed says that the government is taking steps to address these issues by building new schools, many of which are intended for girls. The government is also striving to improve security and transport for female teachers, she says.

While the government is working to improve educational facilities, the pace of progress has been slow. Local leaders and community members says they remain hopeful that these efforts will eventually lead to more opportunities for girls in rural areas like Birote.

Sarmad Faraz Abbasi, a human rights activist and lawyer who spoke to The News on Sunday, said he believed that addressing the educational gap in remote areas required a multi-faceted approach.

He said the lack of middle and high schools for girls was a major barrier that needed urgent attention. He pointed out that without the support of parents and elders, any initiative to improve education would struggle to succeed. He said he had been advocating for the establishment of more schools as well as transport, financial incentives and free school supplies to ease the economic burden on disadvantaged families.

“Many families in these areas view education as a luxury they cannot afford. Financial support can change that mindset and encourage them to send their daughters to school,” he says.

In addition to financial support, he believes that attracting and retaining qualified teachers is crucial.

Abbasi also suggests that the government should offer better incentives for teachers, such as providing hard-area allowance, transport and housing allowance, to encourage them to work in remote areas.

Beyond infrastructure and financial support, Abbasi highlights the importance of addressing cultural barriers. He says that in many rural areas, girls’ education is still not a priority. There is a need for awareness campaigns to change this mindset, he says. He advocates for the involvement of local leaders and religious scholars in promoting the idea that education, particularly for girls, is not only a right but also a necessity for the community’s development.

He sees Rida’s success as a beacon of hope for other girls in similar situations. Rida’s story is proof that when supported girls can achieve great things. He believes that with sustained effort from both the government and the community, it is possible to bring about real change and create a future where every girl, regardless of her background, has the chance to receive a quality education.

Rida wants to become a teacher and give back to her community. She also wants to inspire other girls to follow their dreams, no matter how difficult the journey may seem.

Rida’s vision reflects the growing belief that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and gender inequality. If the government, private institutions and communities work together, the educational landscape for girls in rural areas like Birote can be transformed, ensuring that future generations of girls have the same opportunities to succeed as Rida.

The writer is a freelance contributor.