Pakistan guarantees educational rights for all children and has policies in place at federal and provincial levels for ensuring the same. However, in spite of this, it is ranked second on the world's most out-of-school children list with a staggering 9.2 million un-enrolled children. Factors such as gender, rural-urban divide, and geographical location further affect the status and distribution of these children across the country. In terms of education the situation in Sindh is no different from the rest of Pakistan.

According to Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Ranking 2015, the status in district Matiari enrollment Rate 46.67% and gender party rate is 44.30%. The significance of female education and participation in educational processes is well-established and recognised widely. The focus has emerged repeatedly, though with varied emphasis, in various education policies and plans. However, despite this emphasis and recognition, gender inequalities continue to plague Sindh's education sector.

According to Sindh Education Sector Plan, 2014-18 some key features of the existing situation. Identified the following reasons for low enrollment and high drop out of girls in the area: Non-availability of girls' schools and female teachers, Lack of basic facilities eg, furniture, washrooms, drinking water, security, etc, lack of sensitization and realization among parents, poor quality education and conventional methods of teaching, poor school management.

Javed Hussain who leads Sindh Community Foundation a civil society organisation working for girls education in secondary schools, said that the identified problems/factors need integrated approach, the organisation plans on concentrating on aspects such as provision of necessary equipment, sports and student material to encourage enrollment, retention and healthy environment for girls to continue their attendance and learning; enhancing entrepreneurial awareness; and building female teachers' capacity for creating a conducive learning environment.

Considering these multiple factors, Sindh Community Foundation with the support of Small Grants and Ambassador Fund Program SGAFP-USAID distributed 140 student kits ie pair of uniforms (for winter and summer) pair of shoes, lunch box, water cooler, stationary box, stapler, pens and pencils, scissor, colour markers and school bags for the sake of improving learning level of the students, he further adds.

To improve the retention of girls from primary to secondary schooling 140 kits were distributed among 140 girls students studying in class sixth, 7th and 8th in government girls higher secondary school Bhanoth and government girls higher secondary school Khaiber of Matiari District.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017