ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi said on Monday that society’s mindset needs to change in order to promote education for girls.

Speaking at the British Council’s Ilm Summit 2019, he said that there is a special need to enrol girls in school.

“For this, we have to change mindsets,” he said. He recalled meeting a few boys studying in Bhurban, Murree, who were very excited about getting an education.

He said that when he asked the boys about their sisters, they said their sisters were at home and didn’t need to be educated.

Dr Alvi said this mindset needs to change. He also called for creating an encouraging environment for students in schools, in particular for girls, noting the need for toilet facilities.

He added that sports also play a part in attracting out-of-school children. He recalled that he used to play hockey and football at school, and reminisced about a football match at school in which he missed an opportunity to score a goal.

The ‘Ilmpossible’ summit was organised to celebrate the achievements and enrolment of 385,000 children in schools in 65 districts.

Dr Alvi said at the event that education is a tool that can overcome regional and global challenges such as climate change and environment protection. He also emphasised the importance of technology.

He also paid tribute to the students who lost their lives in the 2014 Army Public School (APS) attack in Peshawar, and mentioned the difficulties facing students in Jammu and Kashmir whose schools have been closed because the curfew imposed on them by Indian forces for five months.

British High Commissioner-designate Christian Turner spoke about the importance of keeping children in school, with the education of girls equally important for the country’s development.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser suggested raising an educational army to increase Pakistan’s literacy rate. He said 20 million children are still out-of-school and concerted efforts are needed to bring them back into school.

He said education was imperative for the progress and prosperity of any country, and emphasised the need to impart quality education to children without discrimination.

Mr Qaiser said a uniform educational system throughout the country would bring rural areas at par with urban areas. He also urged social sector organisation to supplement the government’s efforts, and suggested incentivising educationists and enhancing their capacity for sustainable growth in the standard of education.

Recalling the APS attack on Dec 16, 2014, Mr Qaiser this was a black day in Pakistan’s history in which a brutal attempt was made to disrupt peace and educational activities in the country. He said the gruesome attempt inflicted an irreparable wound, but the resilience of students, teachers and the parents of the martyred students gave the nation a new spirit to fight enemies of the country.

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri and MNA Riaz Fatyana also spoke at the event.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2019