As per official statistics released by the Federal Education Ministry of Pakistan the overall literacy rate is 46 per cent, while only 26 per cent of girls are literate. Independent sources and educational experts, however, are skeptical. They place the overall literacy rate at 26 per cent and the rate for girls and women at 12 per cent, contending that the higher figures include people who can handle little more than a signature. There are 163,000 primary schools in Pakistan, of which merely 40,000 cater to girls. Of these, 15,000 are in Punjab Province, 13,000 in Sind, 8,000 in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KPK) and 4,000 in Baluchistan.
The situation is especially alarming in rural areas due to social and cultural obstacles. One of the most deplorable aspects is that in some places, particularly northern tribal areas, the education of girls is strictly prohibited on religious grounds. This is a gross misinterpretation of Islam, the dominant religion in Pakistan (96 per cent of the population), which like all religions urges men and women to acquire education.
In this regard SEHER has taken special initiatives by formation of 200 Child clubs which are functional in schools for the child rights and protection of children in the most deprived province of Baluchistan. First time ever a guideline for construction of safe and child friendly space was developed and in 340 schools of three districts of Baluchistan this guideline are being followed in school construction. 439 Teachers trained on positive disciplining and 57 on Child rights, Stakeholders and education department is engaged in the advocacy for the ban on corporal punishment in Baluchistan. A comprehensive notification which covers the ban on corporal punishment and the consequences, teacher will face in result of implication of Corporal punishment. A paper on Reporting mechanism in Schools was developed and shared with save the children.
