Pakistan's first-ever school for transgender community set to open its doors
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A school for the education and vocational training of Pakistan's transgender community is set to open its doors from April 15 in Lahore, DawnNewsTV reported on Friday.
Named The Gender Guardian, the school offers a full 12 years of academic education from the primary level to matriculation, and then leading up to college.
The school will also impart technical education, such as fashion designing, beautician and hair styling courses, graphic designing, computer and mobile repairing, among others.
Asif Shahzad, the school's founder, told DawnNewsTV that the school has been built by an NGO named Exploring Future Foundation and that after the Lahore branch's opening, two more such schools will be established in Islamabad and Karachi.
Read: Life no bed of roses for third gender
The management said that more than 40 aspiring students from the transgender community have already registered with the soon-to-be operational school and will be a part of the opening batch.
Shahzad said that the school has 15 faculty members — three of whom themselves are from the transgender community.
The school will be formally launched through an opening ceremony at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore's Alhamra Hall, with several names from the showbiz industry expected to attend.
Rana Bilal is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn News (TV) with over nine years of experience covering legal affairs, justice-sector developments, and environmental issues. He can be found on X at @ranabilaldawn.
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Apr 06, 2018 06:03pm
It is a good move but my question is why separate school for them? Why are we giving them an impression that they are different than us? Please think.
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Apr 06, 2018 06:04pm
Beautiful people
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Apr 06, 2018 06:27pm
Nice initiative by our Pak counterparts. I don't know if we have such schools for other gender in India but we should take such initiatives as well if we don't already.
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Apr 06, 2018 06:37pm
Do we need to have separate schools for our transgender community? Why not one school for all? The transgender girls can be educated in girls school and transgender boys in boys school.
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Apr 06, 2018 06:46pm
Trans gender should be brought in the medical profession , train
Them as nurses and para medical staff, transgender people have a lot of empathy , and placed in the right direction it will be of great help .
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Apr 06, 2018 06:59pm
I am all in favor of giving and protecting the rights of transgenders, but giving them their separate schools is telling them they need to remain segregated from the mainstream, and, therefore, is itself a discriminatory act. They should be educated in regular schools. It is true, they will initially face harassment by those who are not, but others need to learn to accept them as one of their own. This is exactly what we have done with girls and boys, by keeping them in separate schools, they never learn how to properly interact with one another.
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Apr 06, 2018 07:02pm
Well done.
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Apr 06, 2018 07:20pm
Good initiative. All the best
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Apr 06, 2018 07:30pm
This is an example of Pakistan coming of age to be a Truly Progressive, Caring and Enlightened Country of the 21st Century.
Proud of Pakistan today, treat all your citizens equally, the world will respect you.
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Apr 06, 2018 07:34pm
@KK 100% agree. They will feel to be integral part of the society only if they are living with the society not separate from it. Nevertheless, half-good in better than no-good.
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Apr 06, 2018 07:43pm
it is best step and best decision in favour of oppressed class of our society but it must not be stop at martic level but it may be enhanced upto university level as there was no room for the trans gender community and every where they saw hat. it step shall definitely open the doors for the community people in public sector and private also.
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Apr 06, 2018 07:51pm
An excellent step forward. I wish all the success and happiness to transgenders who havev suffered so much in the past..
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Apr 06, 2018 08:17pm
Separate school may be because of nil acceptance amongst masses.To begin with,atleast give em a school and gradually induce them into mainstream society.However,these showbiz invitees sometime cross cultural red lines...stay hopeful
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Apr 06, 2018 08:18pm
@KK I was going to say the same thing. This is form of self segregation they should be able to attend any school that they choose and should feel safe. If they feel the need to open their own school, because they are bullied or look down upon, then there is something wrong with society and that is what needs to change.
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Apr 06, 2018 08:28pm
Glad to see this news. Keep it up guys. Every person has full right to live a good life.
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Apr 06, 2018 08:41pm
So how can you say good move?
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Apr 06, 2018 10:00pm
Even in advanced societies like the US, blacks, who were not allowed to read and write, were first allowed into separate schools then later they fought for desegregation. I think this is a good first step but it should have come from the government, not an NGO..
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Apr 06, 2018 10:04pm
Good.... Pakistan zindabad
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Apr 06, 2018 10:04pm
Planning to donate for this organisation if you can please provide me with their email.
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Apr 06, 2018 11:19pm
Good initiative
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Apr 06, 2018 11:30pm
@Seedoo You made good point. But us Pakistani is not ready for this coeducational system. Even in western countries Pakistani Families still want segregation between man and woman. It will take time
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Apr 06, 2018 11:59pm
@KK because sadly we live in a conservative society where these kids will be bullied if not separated from those schools. Hopefully, with time we will be able to accept individuals regardless of their sexual orientation.
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Apr 07, 2018 12:52am
@KK who are you really talking about is the question!
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Apr 07, 2018 12:53am
@Khalid iqbal put them in the q elementary schools!
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Apr 07, 2018 12:54am
@Waseem but it's not up to your group...it's their right, and you will have problems as longas you keep offering a right as a favor.
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Apr 07, 2018 12:56am
@ga what is ngo in ur world?
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Apr 07, 2018 01:51am
@KK because mainstream society discriminates and laughs at trans people. Right thing to do for providing education in s safe and respectful environment.
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Apr 07, 2018 05:51am
Good initiative. Let them stand on their feet. Earn their livelyhood.
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Apr 07, 2018 07:19am
This is indeed a good initiative. However, the real question is how to bring them in the mainstream of the society. The media can play a greater role to bring the respectable status in the society where they can earn money and live a life like a male or female does. A separate school for the trans is fine but they should not be separated in the outer world from other people. All should be encouraged to interact with them. It is a great example to the whole world. Now the trans at least have a good platform where they can get education and prosper without a humiliation and contemptuous glances. A new page of development has been written for the trans. I am a male by gender and like my transgender brothers/sisters. I have my best wishes for their overall development. Go ahead and prove yourself!
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Apr 07, 2018 07:36am
Separate schools are needed to avoid other students bullying them.
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Apr 08, 2018 04:06am
Its really a good step!!!!!
It is betterto have separate school for them initially till their acceptance in society as professionals.Its a preprational first step towards their acceptance. This school will work like a nursey for baby plants where they will be kept in shade and protection till they get strength to be implanted in the main garden under the sunlight in open.
But the need is to encourage them to come back in society its the responsibility to everone of us .please discourage those who redicule them.
Need is to open more than one school nearby their homes in the fringes of cities to facilitate them.Please donate for the openings of more schools like this.
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Apr 08, 2018 04:07am
Please tell me how to donate for this school.
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Apr 08, 2018 01:31pm
It has always been my wish to open up a school for transgenders but since you have taken this initiative I would LOVE to give my services I would like to teach there I am a Masters Degree Holder in Gender Studies
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