Sindh approves Pakistan’s first-ever transgender education policy

transgender education policy

KARACHI: Pakistan’s first-ever ‘Transgender Education Policy’ draft was approved in a meeting chaired by Sindh Minister of Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah, ARY News reported.

The policy proposes adding a separate category for transgender children in admission forms for schools and colleges alongside male and female options, a press statement issued here read.

The policy also includes reserving job quotas for transgender individuals during teacher recruitment. The draft will be presented to the cabinet for legal approval.

The meeting was informed that, according to the 2023 census, there are 20,331 transgender individuals in Pakistan, with 4,222 residing in Sindh. However, figures from an NGO suggest the number is closer to 250,000.

Furthermore, research by USAID indicates that 42percent of transgender individuals are only marginally literate, while 40percent lack access to education entirely.

Syed Sardar Ali Shah highlighted the numerous challenges faced by transgender individuals in accessing education, emphasizing that societal prejudice, mistreatment, and exclusion often act as barriers to their educational opportunities.

He further noted that financial constraints, coupled with a lack of decent employment opportunities, make it difficult for transgender individuals to afford education. The fear of harassment in educational institutions also deters them from pursuing studies.

The education minister pointed out that there is currently no curriculum specifically designed to address the needs of transgender individuals. He said that the policy aims to provide a supportive environment for transgender students, including establishing special schools and non-formal education training centers.

Additionally, skill development programs for transgender individuals have been included to achieve more effective outcomes. The policy emphasizes creating an anti-harassment environment for transgender students in educational institutions.

Public awareness campaigns will also be launched to promote the importance of equal opportunities and rights for transgender individuals after the policy’s approval. Support groups will be set up in schools to help transgender children cope with societal pressure.

Successful transgender individuals will be presented as role models through mentorship programs to encourage others to pursue education. Minister Shah stressed that providing education will enable transgender individuals to secure respectable employment opportunities.



from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/zREjBqf

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

War-torn Sudan faces ‘catastrophe’ as UN runs out of funds

Image
Of nearly 25 million people in need, the United Nations has only been able to reach a fraction, according to the head of the UN’s humanitarian response in war-torn Sudan. But assistance to even those four million could soon stop, Clementine Nkweta-Salami told AFP in an interview, if the chronic lack of funding continues. The UN’s humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan says eight months into a conflict between rival generals that has torn the country apart, the situation is “catastrophic”. Aid workers have called it the “forgotten war”. On April 15, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, turned their weapons on each other. Two years after the former allies co-engineered a 2021 coup sidelining civilians from power, their forces have killed more than 12,190 people in their brutal struggle for power, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). That figure is only a c
Read more

Transport Canada declares Pakistan’s aviation security satisfactory

Image
KARACHI: In a major development, the security delegation from Transport Canada on Wednesday completed the security audit of Jinnah International Airport, ARY News reported. According to Airports Security Force (ASF), the team conducted thorough inspection of the security arrangements in place at the airport and found them satisfactory. During the audit, the ASF team comprising National Inspectors gave a briefing to the Transport Canada team. The assessment team was given briefing on security deployment, entry control, screening, issuance of passes and addressing emergency situations. The Transport Canada team commended the efforts of the ASF for taking additional measures to ensure the safety of the Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) direct flights to Canada. The team also termed the overall aviation security measures satisfactory at the international airports of Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention that the two-member delegation from Transport Canada arrived in Pakistan on
Read more

Woman throws eight-year-old child into Karachi’s nullah

Image
KARACHI: A tragic incident was reported from Karachi’s old Golimar area near Eidgah Ground when an 8-year-old child was allegedly thrown into the sewerage drain by a woman believed to be mentally ill, ARY News reported on Tuesday. The local police claimed that the woman – believed to be mentally ill – picked up the child, who was playing nearby, and threw him into the sewerage drain and fleeing the scene. The father of the child immediately reported the incident to authorities, which led to initiate a rescue operation. Rescue 1122 teams have been working tirelessly form past three hours in search of the missing child. On the other hand, the police are investigating the case, and efforts are underway to apprehend the suspect. from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/c1ZzapO
Read more