ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: A report on the status of teachers in Pakistan has suggested setting up of a professional body, like a national teachers’ council, to enhance their standing in society.

The report prepared by Unesco, which would be released on the World Teachers’ Day on October 5, said many professional groups had associations, like Pakistan Medical Association, the Pakistan Council of Engineers and the various bar councils, to safeguard their interests.

“Efforts should also be made to ensure recruitment of teachers on merit which would enhance their status and performance as well as the quality of education,” it added.

The report also asked for steps to dismantle social, cultural, political, economic and legal barriers that marginalize and disenfranchise women.

“Female teachers should receive utmost priority in capacity- building, training in leadership roles, remuneration, job security and adequate representation in matters concerning them.”

It also recommended decent working conditions and adequate pre- and in-service training courses for teachers.

“Utmost attention should be paid to the utilization of latest, relevant techniques and technologies in the field of teacher education, including those related to distance education which open up vast opportunities, especially for female teachers in remote areas.

In Pakistan, the report said, the largest concentration of working women was in teaching. But compared to male teachers, the ratio of female teachers was low in the public sector of education (36.5 per cent). In primary schools, too, the ratio was almost 35 per cent.

The report quoted statistics to show that the impact of female teachers on the academic performance of students, both boys and girls, was higher than that of male teachers and it was believed that women proved to be better teachers, particularly at the primary level.

However, surveys indicated that the capabilities of women teachers in NWFP, rural Sindh and Balochistan were considerably limited in the core subject of Mathematics.

It said Pakistan’s record in empowering its women fell far short of expectations. “Female illiteracy in Pakistan is among the highest in the world with gender empowerment measuring at 0.179, the lowest in the E-9 countries.”

The report said social conservatism, rigid and oppressive cultural traditions and religion were the main forces considered to restrict the working of women.

“Despite the fact that the number of women in the teaching profession is quite fair, there is an acute shortage of female teachers, especially in the rural areas.”

Female teachers also faced logistic problems and women even with higher qualifications apply for lower jobs because they were unable to leave their families for work. Besides, single women face accommodation as wells as security problems. Moreover, married women have to move to areas where their husbands are posted and as such might not be able to hold a post for a long time.

Female teachers are also given additional responsibilities without proper financial acknowledgement, while medical care entitlement for the family at times is not adequate and the old-age benefits pension process is cumbersome, the report said.