EDUCATION GOES BEYOND LITERACY

Girls’ education goes beyond getting girls into school. It is also about ensuring that girls learn and feel safe while in school; complete all levels of education with the skills to effectively compete in the labor market; learn the socio-emotional and life skills necessary to navigate and adapt to a changing world; make decisions about their own lives; and contribute to their communities and the world. Girls’ education is a strategic development priority. Better educated women tend to be healthier, participate more in the formal labor market, earn higher incomes, have fewer children, marry at a later age, and enable better health care and education for their children, should they choose to become mothers. All these factors combined can help lift households, communities, and nations out of poverty.

According to UNESCO estimates, 130 million girls between the ages of 6 and 17 are out of school and 15 million girls of primary-school age—half of them in sub-Saharan Africa— will never enter a classroom. Poverty remains the most important factor for determining whether a girl can access an education. For example, in Nigeria, only 4 percent of poor young women in the North West zone can read, compared with 99 percent of rich young women in the South East. Studies consistently reinforce that girls who face multiple disadvantages — such as low family income, living in remote or undeserved locations, disability or belonging to a minority ethnic-linguistic group — are farthest behind in terms of access to and completion of education.

The government should understand these problems and should cater to the needs of the citizens. To increase the participation of girls in schools, our government has initiated many schemes, such as, Beti Bachao Beti Padao, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, to name a few. Moreover, the government has been providing free books, scholarships, mid-day meals, uniforms, boarding, lodging, and clothing, etc. For encouraging women’s education at every level, schools, colleges, and universities exclusively for women have been established in many states of India.

I being a student of a girls’ school, believe that every girl of this country should be enrolled in a good school and should get quality education. Education should be seen as a ladder to go up and up in this world.

-Manika Sharma, VI

LET US LIBERATE OURSELVES FROM THE SOCIAL BARRIERS

Education is birthright of every individual. However, for girls it has always been a critical problem in many countries. Rigid customs and social barriers come in the way of girls’ education.  But with time things are changing, people’s thinking is also changing. But this is limited to only few parts of the country. If people of India, both girls and boys get educated, then only India as a country can be called developed.

Women’s education in India is one of the major preoccupations of the government as well as the civil society. The literacy rate of women is much lower when compared to men. In the Indian society which is patriarchal, girls have fewer privileges and lower status than boys. According to a survey,Very few girls are admitted to school and among them many are school drop outs. Many girls cannot attend school due to conservative cultural attitude. Gender inequality reinforces itself in education as it is factually proved the rate of literacy for women is 65.46% against 82.14% of men according to 2011 Census.

Girls in Pakistan are affected from the lack of education. 32% of primary school aged girls are out of school in Pakistan, compared to 21 % of boys. By grade six, 59% of girls are dropped out of school, versus 49% of boys. Women’s education in Pakistan is a fundamental right of every female citizen, according to article 37 of the constitiution of Pakistan, but gender discrepancies still exist in the educational sector. Approximately, twice as many males as females receive a secondary education is Pakistan.

Literacy rate young females in Bhutan was reported at 92.89%in 2017. However, primary enrollment rate for girls attending school was 98.8%, compared to boys which was 97%in 2016.

According to me education is a right for everyone, be it a girl or a boy. It is sad that people across the nation has to fight for the same. But being aware of the discrimination and voicing strong opinions shows that women of the world have realized education’s worth in their life. This can be seen as a step closer to be a liberal citizen.

-Anusha Garg, VI

CONSIDER HER AN EQUAL, EDUCATE HER.

Education is the key factor for the growth of every child in every field whether boy or girl. Nelson Mandela once said,”Education is the most powerful tool which can change the world.” As we all are very well aware with the fact that, all over the world 50% of the population is constituted by women. But in the countries like Bhutan, India and Pakistan, the ratio is very low. Not only the ratio, but their status of educated women is low as well.

India has come a long way in gender equality and breaking the stereotypes changing the lives of millions of girls. The female literacy rate , according to 2011 census, is 64.5% while the male literacy rate is 82.2%. The largest number of literate women in India are from Kerala and lowest number are from Rajasthan.

Right to education has entitled girls to receive the free and compulsory education, but still, a large part of women population in the rural areas of country are being denied to basic quality education.According to a report of human rights , the Pakistan government fails to educate a huge proportion of the country’s girls. Many girls in Pakistan have no education because of shortage of government schools, money, schemes and facilities. And if they get a chance to go to school, most of them would be forced to leave the school by ninth grade. In addition to the drawbacks in the education system, girls are stopped from attending the school by their own families due to the child labour and gender discrimination.The number of girls in Bhutan receiving education is increasing, however, still fall behind when compared with men.

In my opinion, gender inequality is an important and very serious issue for the lack of girl education so there should be equal rights for education to both girls and boys. There is an urgent need to change the mindset of society which views girls as liabilities. Girls are no way less than the  boys if given the right chances to nurture their talents and skills by making them educated and independent. Women like Mansi Pradhan from India, Malala Yousafazai from Pakistan and Zangmo from Bhutan have voiced their opinion about education and have encouraged others to do the same. I feel I am lucky that I never had to fight for my education and my right. But many in my country do not have this privelege.

We are the society, we are the people,if there is a need for change, it has to start from us.

-Mannat Agarwal, VI

EDUCATION FOR ME

For me, ‘Education’ is not just about academics.It is more than that,much more. Through education,I have become informed,aware and have gained the self confidence . However , some people think that education is an exclusive right just for boys.And girls are expected to stay at home and do the household work . But women like Kasturba Mohandas Gandhi , Sarla Devi Choaudharani fought for girls education.
Education in India plays a very important role in the overall development of the country. Women literacy has gone up in 1971, then only 22% of Indian women were literate, but by the end of the 2001, the rate went upto 54.16% . In India girl education was started by a woman Savitri Phule who was the first female teacher at first girls school.
Malala Yousafzai fought for girl education in Pakistan even though she was shot at the age of 15 ,she still tried her best and increased the percentage of educated women .

In Bhutan, monasteries were the only centres of learning . Although the first modern school was opened in 1914. The literacy rate for women in Bhutan  is 48.7% . In Bhutan Tashi zangmo fought for girls education.  She established Bhutan nuns Foundation (BNF). Now in Bhutan girls education has increased when compared with the past .Today I also feel proud that I am a girl,studying in a all girls school. Education for me and for the other women reformers is to be empowered and gain the capability to be able to earn that will raise the country’s economic conditions. Educate a girl and you educate the whole family. Education is the key ingredient which will be helpful in all spheres of life.

– Anushka Singh ,Vl

Lift her; Lift the Country

“SAY NO TO GIRL LABOUR, BUT YES TO GIRL EDUCATION”

In the past, only boys were allowed to get an education, and girls were able to enjoy only a few privileges as compared to boys. A very less percentage of women were allowed to go to school due to conservative cultural attitudes. But, now the time has changed, and girls’ education is preferred by most of the people in our country.

Many girls like Kalpana Chawla, Sarla Thakral, and Marie Curie have created history based on their education. A recent survey says that only 65.5% of girls are allowed to go to school in India. Therefore, to increase the participation of girls in schools, our government has initiated many schemes, such as, Beti Bachao Beti Padao, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, to name a few. Moreover, the government has been providing free books, scholarships, mid-day meals, uniforms, boarding, lodging, and clothing, etc. For encouraging women’s education at every level, schools, colleges, and universities exclusively for women have been established in many states of India.

I being a student of a girls’ school, believe that all children should be educated so that all can participate in the development of our nation.

The future of the country will be bright when we educate boys and girls equally without any discrimination.

Vaanya Mehta- 5C

Access to Education is a Basic Right

Education is a basic human right that should be exercised in all nations. But, for many girls attending school is not an option.  Girls’ education is a beginning point to establish equality everywhere. It is popularly said that a woman is a daughter, wife, or mother, and performing these roles is considered more important than her individuality. The way she handles her home is set as a parameter to assess if she is a capable woman or not. In a nation where every sector is progressing, whether it is technology, infrastructure, or wealth, why is the education of women often questioned? 

Receiving equal access to education is not easy in many countries therefore, they do not achieve equality. Education is a way through which a woman can be an informed citizen, leading the way for her to have her voice heard in society. There is a steep difference in literacy rate among girls and boys in nations like India, Pakistan, and Bhutan. The literacy rate of males in India is 83%, whereas, the female literacy rate is only 65%. The situation in India, in terms of girls’ education, is improving with time, as an organization like; UNICEF is working closely with the government of India to provide quality education to girls.

On the other hand, the female literacy rate in Pakistan is 49.5%, and the male literacy rate is 67.5%. Although girls and women struggle to access education, many organizations have been working tirelessly to promote girls’ education. As a young girl, Malala Yousafzai defied the anti-women education in Pakistan and demanded the girls be allowed to receive an education, and she became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Youth peace prize. Malala Fund’s Gulmakai Network also supports girls’ education.

The education rate for females early by 1990 was hardly 12% in Bhutan, but with the help of the Asian development bank and UNICEF, the girl students have increased to 47%.

It is rightly said that even one drop of water in an ocean makes a difference, thus, everyone’s small effort would also result in creating a big change in society. If a girl is educated, it means the whole family will be educated. So, let’s take an oath to do our efforts, and make a big change in our country.

Gungun Tyagi-5A

Focus on HER education and develop the nation

Every human being needs food to eat, water to drink and shelter to live. Education is as important as this because education gives people the comprehension and skills and it empowers mind. Unfortunately, some of the sections of our society are denied this empowerment, majorly the girls. According to surveys, most parents prefer educating their boy child over the girl child. They take the son to be the bread winner for them, and the girl child to be the care taker of the house.

In almost all the democratic countries in the world, the constitution, the highest institution of a democracy, clearly states education as the fundamental right of all the citizens. Despite of this clear statement, the girl child is denied this basic right of hers. The reasons behind this are numerous, but more than the visible reasons, we need to consider the thinking that goes behind building them. A lot of people have argued that men and women have defined roles in a society, but considering the modern day world that we live in, these definitions just fail us as rational beings. Today there’s nothing that can separate the work of men and women. Be it Anuradha Koirala,Dorji Choden, Malala Yousafzai, or Bachendri Pal, they have all proved their capabilities. They have gone beyond their so called defined roles of a woman and have earned honour for their nation.

For education, girls need to fight multiple layers of suppression. Financial, class and caste and gender bias, are just a few evident ones that we can count on fingers, but the play of things much worse than this. For the emancipation of the girl child, we need to work to the roots and help her empower herself. This empowerment should be his fundamental right like any other citizen, and not a favour by the more privileged ones.

If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation. When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous. The highest result of education is liberality. Education is as important as everything in your life.

#girlson #educateme #letsstudy #penandpapermakesherstronger

Syed Sameeha Ali-5B

Education is the Most Powerful Weapon

Like oxygen is required to survive, similarly, education is required to live a good life. It gives people the skills they require. It is important for people of all ages, and it has no limit. Children require education to learn how to speak and write. It gives people the power to express their feelings and thoughts, to stand up and speak for themselves. History has witnessed that education has always been the most powerful weapon to fight against social evils.

There are several social evils prevalent in many countries for which we need to take up this weapon, one of them being gender discrepancies in education and low female literacy rate at large.  

In countries like India, Bhutan, and Nepal, many girls in rural areas lack proper education due to various reasons. Basic education is free, but not compulsory everywhere. Low investment by government, social barriers, and poverty make it difficult for women to access education. However, various schemes are being introduced; the government is recruiting female teachers in schools, making education compulsory for girls to promote girls’ education. Awareness through social media is another way through which people’s thinking and rigid customs are changing.    

The government of Nepal has taken an initiative and developed the ‘School Sector Development Plan’ (SSDP) that will last from 2016 to 2023. This plan is a part of the country’s goal to attain the status of the least developed country by the year 2022. The plan will look to instigate growth in the Nepali education program and ensure quality education for all citizens.

Every country is heading towards improvement, and it is the need to leave a better and developed nation for the future. Progress is not only when we see tall buildings, wide roads, and expensive cars in our country, but when we see progress in people’s thinking. So, let’s be progressive in our thinking, let’s educate girls, and build a strong nation.

Janhavi Batra-5B

Change in Women’s Education- one step at a time.

India has the longest written Constitution, and secures various rights for citizens of India, and still women of our nation are often left behind in terms of getting education. The social constructs and stereotypes created by our society hamper their growth, and further, the country’s growth. You go to developed countries, and you shall see so many women in big offices at senior posts. The scenario is completely different in many developing countries. Many countries have been civilized for thousands of years, but are they really civilized? If half of the population has no access to proper education, then how can one accept their countries to be civilized? The leaders of these countries hope to become a superpower in the coming decades, but how will it be possible if half of their population is uneducated.

Statistically, Bhutan does well in women’s’ education. 98.8% of girls are enrolled in schools. Most girls do not attend schools due to various reasons. In Pakistan, due to tribal, feudal, patriarchal traditions, not many girls are sent to school. The same goes for India. I don’t want to talk much about data. It looks that a large number of girls are sent to schools, but do they attend the school? Many girls are busy taking care of their siblings, their parents, working in their house, or working as domestic maids. It is easy to say that the government should do this, the government should do that. Can the government do everything? I guess foreign aid is the solution, like small help from India, went a long way in improving girls’ education in Bhutan. Similarly, if some rich countries like the USA help India and Pakistan, then the situation can improve. NGOs and associations can construct new schools in far off areas. Maybe teachers can be recruited in these areas for providing better education. Overall, there has to be integrated planning. Say, if girls are sent to schools and educated, then they should be helped to get jobs so that they become self-reliant and confident. Vocational training for girls should be promoted. The change should come from within. Women from themselves have to rise; they should take matters into their own hands. Let’s hope things will get better. 

Aanya Singhal-5A

Strong, Free, & Educated

Being a student of a girls’ school, which empowers students to excel, I’ve learned to take on challenging math and science subjects, and engage wholeheartedly in serious sports – all things girls aren’t believed to like. I’ve also learned to not conform to opinions that girls should not go to schools. In many rural areas, the percentage of girls going to school is very low. We are blessed that we are going to big schools, and are receiving modern education, but now we should think about those girls who want to study and do something in their life. Women are either considered to be daughters, wives, or mothers, but never are they thought of as individual humans with different hopes and dreams.

In India, some states are really good in terms of girls’ education, but some are still behind. The overall percentage of girls going to school in India is 65.5% compared to boys, which was 82.1% in 2019. The Indian government has launched many schemes to provide opportunity to girls in different areas of the country. “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” is one of these campaigns, which was launched on 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spread awareness among people about girls’ education in India.

People have been taking initiatives to curb this issue completely, but now also in many villages in India people refuse to send their girls to school. This should be changed. Famous personalities such as Sudha Murthy, Amitabh Bachchan, Sakshi Malik, etc. are promoting girls’ education in India.

In Bhutan, on the other hand, schools saw an increase in the female enrollment rate from 1992 to 2012 and recorded more female attendance. As per the research, the percentage of girls receiving education in Bhutan is 98.8% compared to boys, which were 97% in 2016. This was because the government had increased its investment in human capital in the last 30 years at that time. Secondary education is still an area in which women need to enroll more. The queen of Bhutan Jetson Pema has been promoting girls’ education in Bhutan.

Education system in Pakistan has been changing significantly, but there still prevails high numbers of out-of-school children, and gender disparities in education.According to a survey 32% girls of primary school age are out of school as compared to 21% of boys. This is very alarming. People such as Malala Yuosafzai are working in the direction to provide better education to girls in Pakistan.

Girls’ education is a critical issue in the world. The governments, NGOs, and institutions can only make laws and provide facilities, but the change has to come from us. Together we all should come forward to help those girls, and give them wings to be free, strong, and educated.

Somebody had rightly said – “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation”

Abira Dwivedi-5A