Zubair Qureshi
A high percentage of girls (around 8pc) are still out of schools as compared to boys (6pc), says the ASER National Report 2023 which is a flagship project of the Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi(ITA), the largest citizen-led learning accountability initiative.
The launch event called for decisive measures and quick and meaningful action to be taken in support of girls, out of school children and other marginalized groups.
The report was officially unveiled coinciding with International Women’s Day (March 8) with a galaxy of senior educationists, distinguished panelists, the government officials, representatives from civil society, development partners, media persons, students and teachers in attendance.
Former Federal Education Minister RanaTanveerHussain was the Chief Guest on the occasion. He welcomed the ASER report’s findings and held they would help the decision makers take up and address the concerns particularly, those of girls education, out of school children, learning gap etc as pointed out in the ASER National Report.
Province-wise results show that the gender gap in the percentage of out-of-school children (OOSC) aged 6-16 years is more pronounced in Balochistan, Sindh, and KP. Although the gender gap in the share of OOSC has narrowed over time, a significant percentage (14pc) of both girls and boys (aged 6-16) in rural areas still remain outside the education system.
The gender gaps in learning have narrowed from 2012, 2014 to 2023, including pandemic/flood years (2020-2023), in literacy (at least sentences) and numeracy (subtraction).
