Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education (PAGE) hosted a “National Seminar on Girls Education” in association with Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training on April 03, 2019. The event was organized at Planning Commission Auditorium, P Block, Secretariat, Constitution Avenue, Islamabad. Representatives from Ministry of Education and Professional Training, various NGO’s and PAGE Alliance members participated in event accounting for approximately 150 participants. Mr. Shafqat Mahmood the Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training was the honorable chief guest on this auspicious occasion and Professional Training and Syed Javed Hassan – Chairman National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTAC).
Dr. Tariq H. Cheema, Chairman PAGE also the Country Representative of ARC Pakistan greeted the distinguished guests. In his welcomed note he emphasized on how girls were facing various obstacles in terms on education. He said that “only 39 % of rural girls attend secondary school – far fewer than the rural boys (45 percent) who are able to make it the secondary school”.
Fajer Rabia Pasha, Executive Director, PAGE in the introductory remarks said that “At least 13 million girls between the ages of 5-16 still remain out of school, 32% of primary school age girls are out of school versus 49% of boys”. She stressed on how especially girls were suffering in terms of education and how it had a adverse affect on them in comparison to boys.
In this seminar various organizations from across Pakistan participated. The sole purpose of the event was to address challenges pertaining to girl’s education in Pakistan. Alliance members of PAGE from different regions of Pakistan brought to the notice of the honorable chief guest Mr. Shafqat Mahmood on how different regions in Pakistan faced diverse and dissimilar challenges when it comes to education.
Mr. Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training in his keynote speech said that “we are committed to prioritize and focus on education through adequate resources and we are committed that there will be no gender discrimination rather girls education will be prioritized”. Further, he highlighted that girls education is one of the biggest challenge faced by Pakistan today and to deal with it we must devise innovative methods. By incorporating technology with education can also help us overcome cultural barriers. He added that girl’s education is a pre requisite to country’s economic development.
At the end of the event there was certificate distribution and award ceremony took place. PAGE Hero 2019 was awarded to ARC Pakistan’s Literacy Mobilizer, Ms. Naheed Bibi. Her efforts were appreciated in most remote areas of Pakistan and her proactive role to promote better educational attainments.
PAGE is a organization whose main aims are to create a reality of gender equality, one where more women are entering the education system one where women are earning more qualifications one where women are participating equally in decision making and one where women are acquiring leadership roles by building more schools, training more teachers, and improving coordination among relevant departments, elected representatives, donors, civil society organizations and communities (including parents).