Women’s education in Pakistan has long faced systemic neglect, cultural hurdles, and weak government support. A clear example is happening right now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where a key stipend program that was meant to boost girls’ school attendance has essentially been shut down over the last three years.
The stipend program began after the 2008 elections under an Awami National Party provincial government. It gave each girl in grades 6–10 from government schools Rs 200 a month to help cover school costs. The program worked well – it kept more girls in school and opened up new opportunities for them.
But according to recent coverage by Dawn, the stipend has not been paid since the 2022‑23 fiscal year. Although the education department has been preparing and submitting all required paperwork, the provincial finance department has repeatedly failed to release the necessary Rs 3.8 billion each year—money needed to support about 600,000 eligible students.
Ironically, the current Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) government in KP announced it would raise the stipend from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month. While the new amount appeared on paper, no funds were actually disbursed, leaving the program on pause.
Headmistresses in the area express deep frustration. “Students and parents keep asking for the stipend, but we have no answers,” one headmistress told Dawn. Another added that families often rush to schools when their girls miss classes because the stipend keeps them motivated. These voices show that the program’s value is real in the community.
The situation highlights a serious gap between promises and action in Pakistan’s commitment to girls’ education. Even with bold pledges and nominal increases, the government’s inability to provide the essential money illustrates systemic apathy. In a country where millions of girls struggle to attend school, abandoning programs like this signals deep-rooted neglect and underscores the urgent need for reliable funding and support for girls’ education in Pakistan.
Source: aninews
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