KARACHI, May 5: Sindh Minister for Women Develop-ment Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto has said that gender disparity in education is a major issue.

“The factors that keep girls out of school are more cultural than religious. Islam does not preach illiteracy or unequal treatment in any aspect of life for girls.

Provision of proper educational opportunities should be provided to women to eliminate illiteracy in the country,” the minister said while speaking at a big gathering of students on the eve of Global Campaign for Education-2008, organised by the Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (SPARC).

“n educated mother can produce an educated family and an educated family is necessary for a literate society,” she added.

The minister said that the government was taking initiatives on girls’ education, and all-out efforts would be made to end illiteracy.

Reporting issues concerning education, SPARC School Project Officer Nazra Jahan said about 6.463 million children in Pakistan do not go to schools, according to Education for All (EFA) global monitoring report-2007. —PPI