Challenging
Illiteracy
"Education
system in Pakistan is in a big mess. Only the rich can get a quality education,
while the poor can't even find enough money to feed themselves!"
"Proper
education and training is every citizen's right. Why can't every kid in Pakistan
be given the opportunity to obtain quality education?"
"What
has government done to enhance the literacy rate and to reform the education
system in rural areas of Pakistan?"
These are
few of the many questions that are often raised in the gatherings and forums
whenever the issue of education and reform comes up. While these questions
are valid, and while most of us are simply talking about these problems, there
are dozens of non-profit organizations and sincere individuals in Pakistan
who are selflessly engaged in fighting illiteracy.
For example,
the Human Development Foundation [HDF] is currently running 56 schools in
several rural areas of Pakistan and hopes to have over 100 new schools functioning
by next year.
Here we take
the opportunity to provide you the links and highlight the contributions of
some of these non-government organizations that are trying to make a difference.
May be it's
time that each one of us took a similar initiative and volunteered for such
wonderful causes!
Human Development Foundation of North America [HDF]
HDF schools emphasis hands on learning. Instead of teaching the children how
to recite multiplication tables only, the utility of their education is enhanced
by teaching them farming skills, health education, etc. There are over 40
Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) formed. Over 70% of the students are girls!
To read more about their success stories in this area, check out the following
articles:
Sindh Education Foundation [SEF]
The Sindh Education Foundation (SEF), established in 1992, works to
empower disadvantaged communities towards social change by creating and facilitating
new approaches to learning and education. This site includes details of SEF's
aims and objectives, project undertakings, research activities, latest organization
updates, discussion areas and search facilities.
