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Going to School in Pakistan
April 17, 2007
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The armed conflict taking place within Pakistan certainly is the major immediate threat to the well being of the children of Pakistan. However, the state of Pakistani schools does not offer these children much long-term hope. An article in The Economist (April 7, 2007; www.economist.com), "Teacher, don't leave them kids alone," makes these dismal observations about schooling in Pakistan:

• Officially, 53% of Pakistanis are literate. Others say the figure is nearer 30%. Literacy, often defined as no more than the ability to write one's name, is as low as 3% among women in some rural areas.

• Across Pakistan as a whole, only 52% of primary school-age pupils attend school. Of those, nearly one-third will drop out.

• Only 22% of girls above the age of ten complete primary schooling, compared with 47% of boys.

• Some 3,500 schools do not have buildings; of those that do, 4,000 are classed as "dangerous"; 29,000 schools have no electricity; 14,000 have no drinking water; 22,000 do not have a toilet; 4,000 consist of a single classroom; and fewer than 100 secondary schools have science labs.



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Comments (2)

Displaying All 2 Comments
Sara Packer · April 17, 2007
Portland, OR, United States


It is easy to be horrified at statistics from other countries. and I empathize from the bottom of my heart with the children and families of Pakistan. However, I would like to see these findings compared with honest statistics from inner-city urban schools in the US, many of which are dangerous, crowded, and unsanitary and lack basic supplies, labs, and computers.

In my son's former elementary school, located in a comfortable middle and upper-middle class neighborhood, the water is supposedly clean but undrinkable. It comes out of the tap rusty and it tastes terrible. So there is no drinking water unless students and staff bring their own. Every year students are asked to purchase basic supplies and bring them to school, including tissues and toilet paper. I shudder when I think of other less fortunate schools right here in the US.

Many children here have luxurious school settings compared to what you report about Pakistan. But let's not make any assumptions.

Aslam gill · April 17, 2007
Church
Gujranwala, punjab, United States


The think which i want to share is that,the christian in Pakistan are mostly poor,and the
They work as a sweepers,and get3000 ripees per month in this they can hardly run the needs of the home.So they can't educate their childrens.If our community will not develop our future is still in dark.so i want to say that please pray for pakistani childrens.
I am running a school in which we have 300 students and we can't give education to whole childrens.Please pray for us that may Jesus Help Us in doing this.
Pray for us and help us.



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