Staff Reporter
The newly launched report on ‘education and inequality’ found alarming discrimination in educational institutions based on religion, faith or belief. The report called for radical shift and reforms in legislation and urged the need for teachers training and behavioural transformation of society as a whole.
The launch of the report titled “Education and Inequality: Discerning the Foundation of Citizenry”, was organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here at Islamabad. The report was jointly conducted by The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and The Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities (IDRAC).
The report revealed that around 60% non-Muslim students experience or feel being discriminated and disrespected, whereas, 70% of the non-Muslim teachers faced discrimination based on their faith. Similarly, 72% of the parents reported that their children are being discriminated in schools/colleges because of their faith-based identity. The study was conducted in 5 select districts of Punjab, including Bahawalpur, Multan, Khanewal, Nankana Sahib and Gujranwala, where around 200 non-Muslim students, 40 teacher and 40 parents were consulted to collect the data.
While presenting the findings of the report, Executive Director, the Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities (IDRAC) and lead author of the report Amjad Nazeer, said that in order to revolutionise the society, there is a dire need of taking reforms measures to end inequality and religious discrimination in our educational institutions.
