LODHRAN: A non-formal education centre has been started for transgender persons here by the Punjab Literacy Department.

District Education Officer (Literacy) Shazia Noreen told Dawn, 60 adult literacy centres were running in Lodhran and one such centre was started on Feb 11 for transgender persons.

“Twenty transpersons have got admission to the centre and they are getting the basic education in English, Urdu and arithmetic.”

Ms Noreen said a Quran teacher had also been hired.

Talking to Dawn, the transgender persons, Sana, Saima, Pari and Shahzadi, said they were happy to be students of the centre.

They said they had lost their chance to learn at an early age from any formal school and the centre had provided them with a chance to read and learn. After get education from the centre, they hoped to get some government and private sector jobs to live better life.

Their guru, Madum Kajol, also lauded the literary department’s step, thanking the government for it

Malik Attaullah Awan, a social worker, told Dawn termed the initiative a good move by the government, demanding an increase in the number of the centres for transgender persons across Punjab.

“After getting education, the transgender persons can have a chance to lead a better life,” he added.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2019