WUNRN
GIRLS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW -
SANITATION, WATER, & EDUCATION FOR GIRLS - http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Girlshavearighttoknow.aspx
Excerpt by UN Special Rapporteur on
the Right to Safe Drinking Water & Sanitation - Lack
of access to appropriate sanitation facilities is another significant reason
fewer girls than boys attend school. The Independent Expert on the Issue
of Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, said one of the
factors that helped explain why more girls than boys continue to drop out of
school was access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Girls often have the
task of fetching water on a daily basis which makes them either late for school
or unable to attend, and they are more affected by poor sanitation facilities
at school. De Albuquerque noted that one statistic estimated that 11
percent more girls attended school when good sanitation was available.
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Asian Human Rights Commission
PAKISTAN - LACK OF SANITATION FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS - OBSTACLE IN GIRLS' EDUCATION
Contributor - Amir Murtaza - July 6, 2012
Education is certainly an undeniable right of
every child, as enshrined in all UN and International Conventions and
Protocols. Similarly, getting education in a clean and healthy
environment in school is also a fundamental child right; however, thousands of
children are being denied to their basic right as they have no or very limited
access to clean and healthy sanitation facilities in their schools, especially
located in rural areas of the country. This is certainly an unfortunate fact
that lack of clean and healthy sanitation facilitates are not only harmful and
injurious for the health of children but also consider as an obstacle in girls'
education.
Badrunnisa Memon, a female school teacher in Mirpurkhas, informed that a
majority of government schools, and even some private schools, often experience
very inadequate and unsatisfactory toilet facilities. She added that in
many schools toilets are so dirty and filthy that children - only boys - prefer
to go to the open fields; however, girls find no option but either goes back to
their own house or to the nearby house of any acquaintance. Badrunnisa
Memon further informed that young girls need privacy in toilets, due to their
specific biological needs; therefore, lack of proper facilities makes it very
difficult for young girls to attend the school regularly, especially during
their periods.
Bushra Abro left the school when she was in class VII, "Since my
childhood, I have keen interest in getting education. I have really
worked hard during my studies; however, after my primary school, it was quite
difficult for me to continue the studies as the new school was quite far away
from my house. I still remember that school didn't have any toilet, which
was really painful for all of us."
According to a recent news report, highlighted in print and electronic media,
UNESCO in collaboration with Pakistan Association for Continuing and Adult
Education (PACADE) organized a forum for the enforcement of Article 25-A of the
18th Amendment of Constitution and promotion of EFA (Education for All) in
Sindh. The program informed that according to an official survey, 22
percent of the primary schools have no buildings, 86 percent lack electricity,
46 percent have no latrines and there is no proper provision of drinking water
in 51 percent of schools.
It is important to mention that Article 25 A has been introduced into the
Constitution of Pakistan through 18th Amendment and the article 25 A states
that: "The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all
children of the age of 5 to 16 years in such manner as may be determined by law".
Shad Begum, Executive Director of the Association for Behavior and Knowledge
Transformation (ABKT), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, observed that lack of sanitation
facilities for girls in schools is an immensely important issue; however, the
issue has been ignored badly. Additionally, due to several social and
cultural restrictions, people don't discuss the issue. She added that
health and hygiene is equally important for girls and therefore, there is a
need to create broader awareness about the issue, with the help of print and
electronic media. It is important to mention that Shad Begum is the
recipient of the 2012 International Women of Courage Award.
Fazal Noor, an experienced International Development Expert, observed that
sanitation is an important issue in itself; however, sanitation in schools in
many ways is not on the priority of Education or Sanitation sector. He
observed that education is important in its own right. Major difficulty is in
getting the parents to realize the value of girls going to school. They drop
out because parents do not trust adolescence girls being away from home without
parental guidance. He added that education just does not give girls mobility
but also freedom to think and to act independently.
Kashif Farooqui, an Islamabad based Gender Expert, observed that proper
utilization of sanitation facilities in rural Pakistan is minimal due to
limited investment and will to utilize the facility. He observed that
women and girls tend to attach more importance to safe sanitation than do men
due to their specific biological needs and vulnerable status. Kashif
Farooqui lamented that inadequate latrine facilities is another reason of
girls' dropout from formal education system. He concluded that, "a
society that has essentially been structured on male domination, women needs
have least weight."
Samina Qureshi, a female school teacher in Hyderabad, observed that it is
really commendable that number of literate people have been increased in
Pakistan due to some sincere efforts by federal and provincial governments;
however, she added, more investment especially to improve the infrastructure is
required with a view to provide conducive environment to children, especially
girls, in schools.
Jabbar Bhatti, Regional Manager of a National NGO, observed that lack of
sanitation facilities is a serious and major issue in primary, middle and
higher secondary schools in Sindh, and other parts of the Pakistan. He added
that, "Due to sanitation and drinking water facilities parents do not allow
their girl children to go to schools in rural areas of Sindh as the parents
feel it is morally bad and it is matter of respect that where girls should go
for using toilets". The Hyderabad based Community Development
Expert said, "I think the situation is an eye-opener for government as
well as international organizations who want to reach the targets of enrolling
thousands of girls and boys, but paying less attention in improving the
infrastructures of schools and filling the missing facilities of schools."
Jabbar Bhatti suggested that GOs, INGOs and NGOs should invest in improving the
infrastructure as it will help in improving the quality of education in the
province as well as in the country.
Ar. Lubaina Adnan, Registrar Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners
(PCATP), informed that she had the privilege to study in one of the best
schools in Karachi; therefore, the infrastructure of her school was quite
good. She added that, "I don't remember any obstruction while using
the resting rooms. I even remember that our female teachers used to do extra
efforts and female maids were always present to serve the feminine issues of
sanitary." Ar. Lubaina Adnan added that in professional life she had
visited several schools, especially located in rural areas, and discovered that
toilet facilities are really pathetic. She suggested that innovative
solutions such as mobile-washrooms may help solving the problem.
No one can argue or deny the importance of girl child education as she will be
the mother of tomorrow. An educated woman can help in making the family
and also contribute significantly in social and economical development of the
country. No country or nation can achieve success and development without
given education to their girls and women. Therefore, there is a need to
minimize gender inequality in education and provide our girls an opportunity to
study in schools, colleges and universities without any problem.
Additionally, provincial governments should relook at their education infrastructure
policy and invest in improving sanitation facilities, especially for girl's
schools in rural areas of the country.