Access to and Quality of Education with a Focus on Female Education

In order to improve access and quality of education, this project aims to improve formal and informal education for women in the community. The project has implemented School Improvement Programmes (SIPs), which provide or improve basic facilities and resources (ex. textbooks) in government schools. The informal education aspect of the project focuses on alternative options for girls and women unable to attend government schooling. Adult literacy programs were created for illiterate women, with a focus on elderly women, in the community. Pre-school programmes are provided for children ages 3-5 in the community, as well as literacy centres and education programs for children, especially young girls, who are not enrolled in government schools.

Personal stories: Zahida is a twenty-eight year old mother who is a member of a Plan Partner community in Patalian, Pakistan. She has two brothers and four sisters. Because her family did not have much money when she was growing up, it was not possible for Zahida and her siblings to continue studying past Grade 5. She stayed at home doing embroidery and gardening during her adolescent years and lapsed into illiteracy.

Zahida was married when she was 18 years old. Through this marriage, she has one son and two daughters. After seven years of marriage, her husband joined a company as a labourer in the Middle East. Her children were growing up and she realized that they needed education.