In order to elucidate the
perpetual gender disparity
plaguing Pakistan’s educational
progress, UNESCO sponsored this
study to identify the reasons
affecting the high dropout rate
among girls. The study blended
reviews on existing literature
with a detailed survey conducted
in three low-literacy districts
of Punjab. It underscores the
enormity of the disparity by
citing over 60% of the Pakistani
women as illiterate and weighs
the various initiatives
undertaken by government and
international institutions, such
as Education For All (EFA),
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
(PRSP) and Millennium
Development Goals (MDG), to
rectify the situation. The
findings suggest lack of quality
education, poverty, social
biases, logistical and safety
issues as well as adolescent
marriages as the primary
hurdles. Specific issues
affecting each of the three
surveyed districts have also
been analyzed as the study seeks
to provide an effective
framework for alleviating the
problems outlined.
