Education is one of the fundamental human rights but it is a fact that education is not accessible by many girls in Pakistan. Education in Pakistan among women is a lot better over the last few years, however, still millions of girls particularly in the rural regions continue to be denied access to schools. Ranging to outdated beliefs to the absence of schools and female teachers, anything is a real and burning problem.

Several families still place the idea that girls do not require education since their duties end with the household chores, even today.

Why Girls Are Left Behind

• The Cultural Norms: Girls in most societies are not encouraged to attain higher education after primary school.

• Marriages: Girls are married off most of the time at an early age thus cutting their education short.

• The issue of Safety: The parents worry about the safety of their daughters, when they are traveling long distances to schools.

• Financial Problems: Families favor the education of the sons to the daughters when the resources available are few.

It is due to these reasons that the literacy rate among women is far much lower than among men. Otherwise, this gap will grow without any attention.

Why Women Education Is Important

To be absolutely clear, the reason why women's education is an important issue is not only a female thing, it is a human thing. A learned woman helps the community in all its facets including family, health, economy and in nation building.

Some of the reasons on why women education should go on are as follows:

• Better Health: A woman who has attained a basic level of education is knowledgeable about falsehood, diet and health.

• Economic growth: Economic activity increases when women participate in the labour market as families earn more income and poverty levels decline.

• Social Development: women who are educated are involved in the decision-making process, which gives the society an inclusive outlook.

The Role of NGOs in Bridging the Gap

As the government's resources get stretched, the position of NGO in education sector gains the implications as never before. These NGOs operate in the rural and deprived regions establishing schools, providing scholarships, and creating awareness about the importance of girl child education.

A vibrant NGO in the education sector, besides offering an opportunity to learn, also transforms the thinking. They also organise awareness campaigns to the parents, train women teachers and construct schools where they have never existed.

The Power of Female Education in Rural Areas

Education presents one of the greatest revolutions when girls of rural origin are allowed to educate themselves. When these girls get an education some of them come back to the community as teachers, nurses or even social workers. They end up being a source of inspiration to other younger girls and change agents within their respective villages.

One school constructed by an NGO in such places is enough to create a movement. Gradually, families start considering the necessity to send their daughters to educational establishments and learn to accept this thought, as it is not bad but helpful.

The Future Depends on Educated Women

Consider Pakistan where all the girls will get quality education and dream big where she will work confidently and bring a difference in her family and society. This is the future that can exist, provided we do something now.

There should be more schools, more girls teachers and support from the community. It requires both the government and all NGOs to persist in efforts in the education sector to reach even the farthest nook of the nation.

And, the most importantly, we should change our way of thinking. We should discard the antique notion that girls do not require any education but the reality that girls hold the solution to a stronger, healthier, and smarter Pakistan.

Final Thoughts

We should start by focusing on women education in Pakistan in hope that we will develop a better society in the future one day. Why women education is essential is now no longer a question, what we are doing about women education is now the question.

It does not matter whether you sponsor a local school, shout out to change it or support an NGO in the field of education it all makes a difference. So shall we say, let us together see that every girl in Pakistan has the education that she deserves.