Four Pakistani Young Leaders Represented Green Flag at Global Conference on Gender Equality from Lahore

Women Deliver 2019 is the biggest conference on Gender Equality that was held from June 1–6 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. All of them are also part of Award-winning Women Deliver Young Leaders Program.

The conference was attended by 8500 people and influential from around the world. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at the opening ceremony with other head of states.

Umair Asif ED/Founder Kafka Welfare Organization spoke as a guest speaker at the opening of Silent Disco Session Youth Zone. The topic of the session was Empowerment of Women and Girls through the power of sports and play based on personal experience. He said, Women in sport defy gender stereotypes and social norms, make inspiring role models, and promote gender equality. Twitter: @ranaumairasif

Vlogger and Social Activist Namra Nasyr joined a session as a guest speaker titled “Changing Dynamics for Women in Workforce”, organized by Johnson and Johnson.
She spoke on a special dialogue about ‘The Importance of mentorship ‘.

Joshua Participated as a guest speaker in a session organized by Bill and Melinda Gates Institute. The topic of the panel discussion was “Achieving gender equality by 2030”

Laraib Abid presented her poster at digital posters session and won Ingenuity fund by 120 under 40.

علم دوست تعلیمی مہم کے تحت تعلیمی بیٹھک کا انعقاد

لاہور کی یونین کونسل ۲۵۵ میں علم دوست تعلیمی مہم کے تحت تعلیمی بیٹھک کا انعقاد ۔ تعلیمی بیٹھک میں لوگوں نے تعلیمی مسائل کی نشاندگی کرتے ہوئے کہا کے 
علاقے میں واقع دو اسکولوں میں سے ایک لڑکوں کا پرائمری اور دوسرا لڑکیوں کا مڈل ہے جبکہ دونوں اسکول ہائی نہیں۔ انکا مزید کہنا تھا کے ہائی اسکول نہ ہونے اور معیار تعلیم غیر تسلی بخش ہونے وجہ سے ہمارے بچے تعلیم حاصل کرنے دوردراز جانے پر مجبور ہیںْ ۔ جو لوگ بچوں کو دور اسکول بیجنا افورڈ نہیں کرپاتے انکی تعلیم 
ادھوری رہے جاتی ہے۔ والدین نے یہ بھی کہا کے علاقے میں واقع سرکاری اسکولوں میں لائبریری اور سائنس لیب کی سہولت موجود نہیں۔ یاد رہے کہ لاہور میں ۶۱۰ 
سرکاری اسکول پرائمری ہیں جنہیں اپگریڈ کرنے کی اشد ضرورت ہے اور ۴۳ فیصد ہائی اسکولوں میں سائنس لیبز نہیں ہیں۔ اس موقع پر علم دوست کے رہنما عمیر آصف نے کہا کے نئی آنے والی گورنمنٹ کو ترجیحاتی
بنیادوں پہ مسائل حل کرنے کی ضرورت ہے۔

Candidates commit to a charter of demands to lead quality-focused education reform in Lahore

Candidates commit to a charter of demands to lead quality-focused education reform in Lahore

Lahore: With a few days left to the General Elections, several contesting candidates from major political parties gathered to speak at a multi-party convention to discuss the state of education in District Lahore, and commit to citizen-led charter of demands to ensure quality education across the government-run schools.

The convention was organized by Alif Ailaan and Ilm Dost, in collaboration with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agahi, Shaur Welfare and Kafka Welfare Organization.

Politicians joining to speak at the event included Senator Dr Musadik Malik and Shaista Malik from PMLN, Zulfiqar Ali Badr, Iftikhar Ahmed and Asim Bhatti from PPP, Ameer Bahadur Khan Hoti (ANP), Zubair Niazi and Dr Nausheen Hamid from PTI, Zaeem Qadri (IND), Hafiz Salman, Jibran Butt, Zikr Ullah Mujahid and Ameer-ul-Azeem from Jamaat-e-Islami, Zeba Ahsan from PMLQ.

Analysis of the educational landscape in Lahore revealed that availability of schools beyond primary access and poor quality education are the two most important factors contributing to failing education standards in Lahore that set the tone for candidates’ plans to reform schools in their constituencies.

While speaking at the session, Dr Musadik Malik promised to introduce broad-based learning to equip children with knowledge and tools of all disciplines at school-level. He also stated that PMLN would now focus on improving quality as during the past 5 years their focus had remained on access given the sheer number of children out of school in Punjab. Dr Nausheen Hamid of PTI will have her party prioritise science education, train science teachers and upgrade science curriculum. She talked about the latest PTI manifesto that focuses exclusively on STEM education. Most of the candidates spoke of increasing budget allocation towards education and strict regulation and monitoring of both private and public schools. Pak Sarzameen Party’s representative promised to provide free education from Grade 1 till Matriculation.

The session also offered an opportunity for voters to ask their candidates of their plans to improve schools upfront. One speaker from the audience questioned the candidates over their party’s efforts to provide facilities for children with disabilities in schools. Another speaker suggested party reps to focus more on industry-academia linkages with schools and universities to improve quality of learning and increase job opportunities upon graduation.

As per Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, released by Alif Ailaan, Lahore ranks 32^nd nationally and 19^th provincially on Education Score (that measures learning, retention and gender parity) with the learning score as low as 53.93.

Based on the learning assessment conducted by Punjab Examination Commission, Lahore ranks the lowest in learning outcomes in subjects of English, Math and Science. For both Classes 5 and 8, students have scored less than 50% in these foundational subjects. This can be attributed to a lack of functional science labs in 155 high and higher secondary schools.

Moreover, out of 1202 total public schools in the district, there are only 234 middle schools against 610 primary schools that make up half of all public schools in Lahore. Lack of schools beyond primary levels explains why there is a steep drop in the enrolment rates as we move up the higher classes and shift of students to private schools, especially from Class 10 (46,468) to Class 11 (3161). Less than 1 out of 5 schools in Lahore district are public.

A comparison of private and public schools also shows more private schools at every level, which means parents, have to pay more to private schools for their children’s education throughout.

For Lahore’s future elected representatives, providing affordable quality education through government schools in addition to enrolling all 290,000 out-of-school children in Lahore is the biggest challenge awaiting them.

All participants agreed to commit to a Charter of Demands that was based on the demands of parents, teachers and community members in Lahore to have the schools and quality of education improved in their respective constituencies in the coming months.

The demands are as following:

1.     Upgradation of schools to primary to middle, from middle to high, from high to high-secondary schools.

2.     Construction of science and computer labs for modern and quality instruction to students

3.     Complete facilities in form of labs and equipment to be provided to schools to help students learn the latest techniques in biology, chemistry and physics

4.     Construction of more government schools at every level and improvement in their quality so parents can provide their children with affordable, quality education.

5.     Appointment of teachers for science and computers, and establishment of libraries

6.     Training of teachers so they are able to teach according to modern learning practices

7.     Introduction of biometric system to ensure regular attendance of teachers

8.     Popularization of healthy co-curricular activities in schools

9.     Increase in education budget and school principals to be trained for effective utilization of the allocated school budgets.

1.  Introduction of scholarship schemes for needy students

Why are 13.1 Million Girls out of school?

Education of Girls is in the worst condition in Pakistan. According to a survey, Pakistan ranked number three in the race of “Out of School Girls.” The out of school girls have different challenges and barriers which are

·         Missing Facilities

·         Bad Transport Facilities

·         Poverty

·         Traditional Barriers and Wrong Religious perceptions

·         Gender Discrimination

·         Early Age Marriages

·         Security, Lack of Safe environment and physical disabilities

According to a research 33.6% girls not attend school due to the will of parents. Girl’s enrollment ratio is 54% at primary level which falls to 21% at the middle level and 13% at secondary level due to drop out. It also states 29% girls dropped out at middle level as they have to help in work at home. 

Every single girl out of school is a challenge to implementation of article 25-A Right to education act which passed in 2013 at the national level in Pakistan. Schools have many missing facilities such as no electricity and toilets, shortage of teachers, lack of rooms, dangerous building conditions and lack of furniture which causes drop out. Girls lost interest due to poor conditions of schools and education.

In mostly rural areas, schools are far away from home, and there are no transport facilities even in the major cities. It makes getting an education harder for girls. In long travels, security of girls is a concern for parents. Especially in rural areas harassment and rape is increasing day by day. It is a threat to girl’s education, and concerned persons need to improve law and order with the implementation of harassment law 509.

Poverty is the toughest challenge for girls to join the school and stay there. The government started some programs to provide school girls stipends. It helped girls at minor level, as allowance amount was weak and limited. Another solution to deal with poverty is entrepreneurship skills, vocational and part time skill based training which need to spread at a massive level.

Wrong cultural traditions and false religious perceptions are formidable barriers to girl’s education. Cultural and societal traditions also initiate gender discrimination which gives right of education to a boy and ignorance to a girl. A massive continuous awareness required to cure ill minded people and remove wrong perceptions.

Early child marriages are a global issue, and due to the huge population, it is a big problem in Pakistan. It is a lifetime barrier for girls particularly in rural areas. According to UNICEF 37 per cent of Pakistani women get married before reaching the age of 18 years. Civil society organizations and parliamentarians are making real efforts to change minimum marriage age for girls to 18 years which is now 16 years but not succeeded yet. Overall, some progress was raised by the committee as fine and punishment increased. It also leads to early pregnancies which can cause the death of girls.

United Nations celebrate International Girl Child Day every year on 11 October. “On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. This year, as the international community assesses progress under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) since their implementation in 2000 and sets goals to be achieved by 2030, girls born at the turn of the millennium have reached adolescence, and the generation of girls born this year will be adolescents in 2030. As we reflect on the achievements of the past 15 years and plan sustainable development goals for the next 15, it is an opportune time to consider the importance of social, economic, and political investment in the power of adolescent girls as fundamental to breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination and to achieving equitable and sustainable development outcomes”.     

It is not only associated with rural areas. The metropolitan city Lahore is also suffering from girl’s education. Approximately 1, 50,000 girls are out of school at Lahore district, and the biggest challenge is the absence of quality education. According to a learning test of Lahore 42% girls cannot read an Urdu sentence, 37% girls cannot read English words and 47% girls cannot solve a two-digit division question of Math.

One year passed to Right to education act 2014 Punjab but till now rules of business not formed. Government acts showgirls education as a non-priority issue. A discussion started on gender equality and equity, but nothing is achieved on it yet. It is need of time to make budget gender-based and increase the level of quality to reduce drop out at the middle level. Teacher training and proper planning are required to meet sustainable development goals. Punjab government should remove the ban from the formation of new public schools. Prime Minister of Pakistan has promised to increase education spending to 4% of GDP till 2018 but not shared proper plan and a yearly increase of education budget percentage of GDP.

Kafka Welfare Organization (KWO) is working with a mission to educate girls by preventing harmful factors like child marriages. Discussion on girl’s education is not common. To raise voice for girl’s education, KWO organized a roundtable conference Under Alif Ailaan Education Campaign and Kafka Welfare Organization to discuss challenges and barriers to girl’s education with some solutions. The session was held at an art gallery of Lahore to associate education with culture. Politicians, CSOs, media representatives and other stakeholders of education participated in the meeting.

During interactive round table conference, next steps were discussed. Firstly, it was agreed upon that it is necessary to increase commitment and motivation to bring out of school girls back to school. Setting education in priority of state and politicians need. Therefore providing more incentives and subsidies towards girl’s education would be an effective approach.

KWO also organized a community session at a low earning rural area of Lahore with Alif Ailaan campaign, where people are facing missing facilities and poor quality education at public schools. The target audience was mothers of Maryam Colony. They were sensitized on the right to education act and how they can demand (raise voice for) quality education for their children. KWO is making different efforts to highlight this sensitive and important issue. 

By Umair Asif Global Youth Ambassador Pakistan 

*All data facts are taken by Alif Ailaan publication 25 million broken promises and information about International Girls Child day is taken from United Nations website. 

Quality Education and Status of Teachers

http://yjaw.blogspot.kr/2017/02/quality-education-and-status-of-teachers.html

Voice of Parents NA 126 Lahore

Alif Ailaan with his partner Kafka Welfare Organization has organized a School Management Committees Convention at Punjab University Lahore to discuss the issues and structure of SMCs, school funds, teacher and parent’s issues of public schools. The aim of event was to discuss highlight voice of parents to provide their children a better quality education. MNA Shafqat Mahmood, MPA Murad Ras, Schools Heads, Teachers and Parents participated in the session.  

Shafqat Mehmood, MNA NA-126 Said:

·          I am forced to say this with deep regret that we, as a nation, haven’t given education the priority that it deserves in the last 60 years.

·       With regards to the suggestions regarding the effectiveness of SMCs, Shafqat Mehmood noted that the collaboration between SMCs and local councils could drastically improve educational outcomes in schools.

·       Shafqat Mehmood identified three key issues pertaining to education; including missing facilities, lack of teacher training and nepotism in recruitment's.

Muraad Raas, MPA PP-152 Said:

·       I visited this girls’ school in Ganga Ice Factory. I went to a classroom where half the students were sitting on the few chairs that were available while the other half were sitting on the floor. I could imagine how those sitting on the floor would be wondering, “why am I sitting on the floor while my friend gets to take the chair?” Through the very windows of the classroom, they could see the private school where children are playing basketball on lavishly carpeted grounds. I ask myself, are we really educating our children by creating such environments or are we wounding them psychologically?

·       Recurrent issues raised by the audience included lack of basic facilities, lack of sufficient monetary incentives for teachers and lack of quality education in government schools. In this regard, Saniya, a teacher at Punjab University presented her personal case. Hailing from a government school herself, Sania went on to pursue her PhD in Political Science and is currently teaching at Punjab University. She shared her critical observation of there being a lack of focus on confidence-building, personality development and inculcation of ethics by teachers in government schools.

·       Despite several issues raised, several parents and teachers noted that the majority of government schools in Model Town were functioning well. A good majority of the teachers in these schools had an academic qualification equivalent to M.Phil, while a few had post doctorate degrees as well. One head master, however, noted that the monthly salary being paid to an M.Phil pass teacher was as low as PKR 20,000. Without adequate monetary incentives, any hopes for retaining or attracting qualified teachers in government schools are at best misplaced. Furthermore, another head master from a school in Model Town noted that despite the political representatives reaffirming better functioning of government schools in the constituency, none of the representatives at various tiers had their own children enrolled in these “good government schools”. “All I ask is for them to give us a chance. To come visit and see for themselves”, noted the head master.

·       A union Councillor from Model Town stated on the occasion that councils at union and tehsil level could play an instrumental role in the resolution of education issues at schools but as of now, no decision-making authority rested with the local councils.

More budget allocations are required to get 4% GPD target for education

LAHORE: In its ninth consecutive budget, the PML-N government in Punjab has again decreased budget allocations for education.

“In 2013-14, the Punjab education budget was 26 per cent of the total provincial budget whereas only 18.6 per cent of the total budget in 2016-17 has been allocated for education,” says a non-government organisation (NGO), Alif Ailaan, in its Punjab education budget analysis session organised at a local hotel on Monday.

The session was told the Punjab government for the current fiscal year had allocated Rs312bn, which was 18.6pc of the total budget allocation. The budget allocation decreased from 21.4pc from the last year when the education budget was Rs310bn, about 21pc of the total provincial budget that had already decreased from 24pc in 2014-15, the organisation said.

“The percentage share of education in Punjab’s overall budget has seen downfall from 26 per cent in 2013-14 to 18.6 per cent in 2016-17,” it said.

Last year, under the development budget for school education, the government had allocated R32.8bn.

“Out of which, as of April 2016, the government had only been able to spend Rs14bn, which is just over 42pc. This reveals that the budgetary allocations are not getting transferred into meaningful spending. Consequently, the education indicators continue to show little progress in the province.”

“Unless the department and the ministry share constituency wise data, including development allocations, the province will continue to see constituencies being preferred over the actual need,” said MPA Sadia Sohail, adding that political participation in budget-making process was lacking.

“We need to correct our behaviours and need a priority-based political will regarding education. We need same education system and syllabus for all people.”

The session was also attended by Population and Welfare Minister Zakia Shah Nawaz, MNA Rana Muhammad Afzal and MPAs Najma Afzal, Khola Amber, Aleem Shah, Fatima Fareeha and Tamkeen Niazi.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2016