ISLAMABAD: A non-governmental organisation has been providing education to less-privileged girls across Pakistan to empower women through their involvement in economic activities for the development of the country.
Pakistan Alliance of Girls Education (PAGE) was formed with the sole objective of promoting female education in the country. The representatives of the organisation think that Pakistan lags behind other countries in female education, which is the main reason for its economic instability.
PAGE Executive Director Fajer Rabia Pasha told WealthPK that they were striving to enable all girls in the country to have access to education. She regretted that even the girls who got higher education had very limited opportunities to take part in economic activities.
She said that they had set up non-formal schools with a special curriculum across the country where girls could get primary education in 32 months. The organisation is working in 57 cities in Pakistan, especially interior Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a culturally and ritually accepted model.
Fajer Rabia said that PAGE had established 410 schools across the country where 3,860 students including 1,730 boys and 2,130 girls were studying. She said that PAGE had also devised a skills development programme in 13 trades and launched it on a pilot basis in Islamabad. PAGE is in contact with Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority to start skill development programmes for girls above 16 years.
“PAGE is forming a base for startups and small and medium enterprises to support girls. However, it is too early to launch startups and create entrepreneurship opportunities for girls getting non-formal education. PAGE is bringing street children into the mainstream by educating them in a supportive environment,” she said.
Saira Shaheen, a resident of Ispalal village of Bari Imam in Islamabad, told Wealthpk that she was preparing for her CSS examinations when someone informed her about a teaching opportunity with PAGE. She visited the office of PAGE where the nature of work and conducive environment attracted her.
“I have been teaching in the non-formal school of PAGE for the last four years. There are 45 students in my school. The maximum number of students in a PAGE school is 70. Other private schools in the town offer Rs5,000 to Rs6,000 per month to teachers but PAGE gives me more than that for teaching just for three to four hours. My salary is transferred to my bank account,” she said.
Saira Shaheen said that she assisted about 35 students in getting admission to formal schools. She said that she attended 50 training sessions during teaching with PAGE about different skills including first aid.
Dua Batool, a 6-year-old student of Saira, told WealthPK that she was very shy when she got enrolled at the PAGE school. She added that she was fond of acting and singing and the PAGE non-formal school provided her with the opportunity to fulfil her wish.
“I have been changed after exploring the PAGE education programme. I am performing at a stage drama. One of my brothers is also participating in the stage play. PAGE has helped me a lot to materialise my dream,” she said.
Dua Batool could not afford the expenses of formal education. Her father is too old to work while her two elder brothers are working to earn a livelihood for the family.
Zarina and Rubina, two intelligent, hardworking and eager-to-learn friends, live in a shack in Lore Karaiz, a small village on the outskirts of Quetta. They attend a nearby school run by PAGE. Despite their extreme poverty, the young girls are determined to work hard to improve the living standard of their families through education.
In Balochistan, about 62% of girls are out of school. In Lore Karaiz, a paternalistic culture is deeply rooted and girls are discouraged to go to school. The local girls are expected to help their mothers in their homes instead of getting an education.
Sehrish, a teacher at PAGE school, succeeded in convincing the parents of Zarina and Rubina to send their daughters to the school. “The two girls were extremely happy when they received their new school bags, stationery, uniforms and shoes on their first day at school,” she told WealthPK.
