The girls Sindh leaves behind

Sindh's first Gender Parity Report, released recently, raises a simple but serious question: why are so many girls still unable to continue their education? The figures are worrying. Female literacy in Sindh is 47 per cent, but in rural areas it drops to just 27.52 per cent. More than 4.08 million girls aged 5 to 16 are out of school. Moreover, women make up only 4.34 per cent of the police force and 13.7 per cent of the judiciary. These are not just numbers. They represent girls whose education ends before they reach adulthood. In rural areas, the problem is often bigger than a lack of schools. A girl may finish primary school but has no secondary school nearby, safe transport, sanitation or female teachers. Family responsibilities and social pressure to get married early generally make continuing education even harder. Sindh needs to focus on keeping girls in school beyond primary education. More secondary schools, safe transport and female teachers can help remove some of the barriers. If Sindh wants the next Gender Parity Report to show real progress, it must begin with the girls who are leaving classrooms today. Aaisha Karachi