RECENTLY, the US launched an education campaign under the slogan of ‘62 Million Girls’. Right now, more than 62 million girls worldwide are out of school. In developing countries like Pakistan and India, many of them simply can’t afford the school fee, or the nearest school is miles away.

Maybe there’s a school nearby, but it doesn’t have adequate bathroom facilities for girls. There are also cultural norms and traditions that deem girls unworthy of an education.

Girls who go to school get higher salaries, and sending more girls to school can help boost a country’s economy.

Girls’ education is an important health issue as well, because studies show that educated girls raise healthier families and have lower rates of HIV and maternal mortality.

Let’s hope Pakistan would be actively collaborating with developed countries to ensure that each and every girl goes to school and contributes to society.

Anila Nafees

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 6th , 2015

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