In just a week, there are two trending topics on social media, in my country. And unfortunately, not the positive one. First one reads: a 18-month girl raped by her 17-year old cousin; second one: Lahore police has advised "women" to avoid going to police station after sunset, because one of the protector has raped a girl inside the station's premises. Now as usual, each incident sparks an outrage, but for few days, until then we move on to the next tragedy. Yet beneath these headlines lies a more uncomfortable question: are these merely failure of law and policing, or are they also failures of education?
Just today, a student approached me, and asked me to talk with her father. I said, "Okay!" I thought he is going to ask me about her performance and stuff like that, like most parents do. However, I was wrong. He simply said that he is thinking of home-tutoring rather than school teaching. When I asked him, why? He mentioned those two incidents, and talked about all those which happen without us noticing. Now his remarks has two sides: at least, he is still willing to focus on her child's education; but, he is scared to do it normal ways.
Beti Parha G, to Kom Barha G (Educate a Girl, Empower a Nation)
Since childhood, I have been reading and listening to such slogans. But unluckily, these are mere slogans. Just like those so-called written rules, which are never implemented. How is a daughter of a nation suppose to study in such an environement? From household to outside world, she has to face the lust of men. Pakistan's literacy rate stands at 73% for male and 54% for female. So half of my nation's women are deprived of their basic fundamental right - right to education. And, our constitution protects - under Article 25A - protects this right to education.
Moreover, studies have consistently shown that educated women are more likely to: ensure their children attend school; have better maternal and child health outcomes; participate in the workforce; and contribute to economic growth. YEt, when we talk about women's education, the conversation often revolves around numbers. How many girls are enrolled? How many graduate? How many remain out of school? The stats going up and down, while the genuine issue standing still, even going backward.
Now the question arises: what kind of education are we providing?
The burden lies not only with the men, rather it is a commulative failure. If education merely teachers students to pass examination and secure jobs, while failing miserably to teach basic human rights such as empathy, respect, responsibility etc. A society does not become civilized simply because more people hold degrees, degrees are meaningful when accompained by character.
As a teacher, I strongly believe that every classrom is more than a place to teach. It is where boys learn to be gentlemen, where future fathers learn how to raise their daughters, where future police officers, judges, politicans and citizens develop the values that no law alone can enforce. Perhaps the safest place for a girl is not a home or a school closed by walls, but a society educated enough to see her as a human being - without any labelling - before anything else.
The Equal Opportunity
The conversation does not simply end here. Education is not merely about access, because government schools are providing it for free. Like there are free books and no fees, rest of the resources are your own responsibility. The point is not to discuss the government here, it is about opportunity.
As I have discussed earlier, in my previous piece, there is a thin line between equality and equity. Equality, in simple term, means every child has the same right to education. Equity, on the other hand, means recognizing that not every child begins from the same starting line, and need some support - metanlly or capitally - to reach the same destination.
A girl growing up in a well-off urban family is far more like to complete her education than a girl living in a countryside. The later may have to walk several kilometres to school, face a shortage of female teachers, study underneath an open sky, or leave education because of poverty, child marriage or household responsibilites.
Before moving any forward, here is a personal experience. Last year, I found out that girls do not go to school/college for few weeks, during the harvesting season. And, this process has been going on before I was even born. When I talked about it with the parents, they simply shutted me up with a simple question: are you going to feed us?...
So, the point is pretty simple, the right to education may exist on paper, but the opportunity to exercise that right is far from equal, let us just forget about the equity part. The class difference deepeens the divide. Whil one is fighting for basic necessities, and at that moment, this basic necessity is nothing short of a luxury for her. The other is enjoying every luxury on her wish. Neither are at at fault, it is the society and the system which is at fault. And ugliest part is: we are not taking it serious.
"One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world." - Malala Yousafzai
Ironically, the men - even women - of my society does not like Malala. And to their question, I just say one thing, I do not care about her personal life choices, all I know is one thing - she is working for women education. Which itself is the greatest cause for everything. This mentality says a lot, why my part of the world is not progressing with women education.
In the end, fortunately, I was able to convince her father. It did not take much. All credit goes to him, he was not against his daughter's education; he was simply a father scared for her. And honestly, who can blame her? Every parent wants to protect their child from a world that seems to grow henious with each passing day. I suggested him to teach her some Karate, and stop treating her as a mere princess. She indeed is, but she is more than that. She is the strength of a nation.
But fear should never become the reason a girl loses her future.
If we begin locking daughters inside homes because criminals exist outside, then the criminal have already won. The answer lies in not controlling the nation builders - the women. It is to hold the culprits accountable and build a society where such fears not longer hinders a child's future.
As parents, teachers, policymakers and citizens, our responsibility is not merely to educate girls. It is to privde an evironment where they can learn without feat, travel without fear and dream without fear.
It is time to stop asking, "how to portect our daughters?" and start asking, "how do we ensure our sons never become the reason for that protection?" Stop building anymore walls around girls. Let her be free; let her live as her.
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Peace 🕊️
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