Mubeen’s Struggle Against Educational Barriers

Gujrat: “I am deeply troubled by the question of whether education truly equips us with the skills to navigate life. Does the inability to access education prevent individuals from living fulfilling lives?

Said Mubeen, a young girl with a fervent passion for learning. Despite her dedication, her educational journey was hindered.

Mubeen, a student, aspired to achieve academic success. She excelled up to the Matric level with distinction. Although she secured admission to college, her brother Afzal, a laborer, opposed her pursuit of higher education.

In Afzal’s view, education was deemed unnecessary for women. This disagreement within the family forced Mubeen to abandon her college education, eventually completing her BA through distance learning.

Following her completion of the FA degree, Mubeen reluctantly halted her education. The repercussions were profound as she succumbed to significant mental pressure, eventually falling prey to depression.

Even today, she grapples with the lingering pain of unrealized dreams.

Pakistan’s educational landscape presents a stark reality, ranking poorly in global gender parity. With a 13 percent gender gap in enrollment, only 46.5 percent of women are literate.

The journey from primary to tertiary education is fraught with obstacles for women, with only a fraction making it to higher education institutions. Addressing this imbalance is imperative, with gender parity estimated to take a staggering 136 years at the current pace, said Naheed Akhtar, a teacher by profession.

Teacher Akhtar underscores the transformative power of women’s education, asserting that educating a woman transcends individual benefit to impact entire families and societies.

She contends that education is a cornerstone for societal and national progress.

Sadly, many girls in our society relinquish their educational aspirations due to familial pressures. Yet, the pursuit of knowledge is considered a fundamental duty for every Muslim, regardless of gender.

By depriving women of education, we inadvertently undermine societal, national, and economic progress. With women constituting over 50 percent of Pakistan’s population, the consequences of widespread illiteracy are dire.

Arooj, Rihanna’s daughter, shares Mubeen’s yearning for education. Despite her fervor, financial constraints stemming from her father’s modest income as a driver thwarted her educational aspirations.

Arooj explains that financial constraints prevented her from continuing her education. Over the years, Pakistan’s literacy rate has shown improvement, with men at 69 percent and women at 46 percent in 2019.

However, achieving gender equality in education remains critical for societal and economic development.

Currently, 22.8 million children aged 5 to 16 are out of school, with girls constituting over 60 percent of this number.

To address this issue, the government should focus on constructing more schools, training teachers, and implementing programs such as “Education for All Children,” aiming to allocate 4 percent of GDP to education.

State-of-the-art teacher training programs and facilities are crucial, especially for girls.

Additionally, measures like free daycare and positive discrimination for female employees can help boost women’s economic participation, countering issues like teenage pregnancy and gender bias in education.

Tackling entrenched cultural norms requires awareness campaigns and educational initiatives that emphasize women’s roles in family and societal well-being. Changing discriminatory customs demands concerted public efforts.

Collaborative projects that involve both boys and girls and exploring diverse gender concepts can foster understanding and acceptance.

By embracing inclusivity and diversity in education, we create environments where all individuals feel valued and empowered to learn and grow together.