Issues Affecting Equitable Access to Education and How Teachers Can Help

 

Issues Affecting Equitable Access to Education and How Teachers Can Help

Author: Santosh Kumar Biswa, Sr. Teacher, Damphu CS, Tsirang, Bhutan

 

Abstract

Numerous issues affect equitable access to education around the world. One among many issues is the human crises that give rise to forced migration due to political and social issues particularly due to war and poverty (Holford, 2016). As a result, people are found shifting from one place to another whereby, children become the victim. For instance, the war in Syria raised many refugees who were displaced. On the other hand, discrimination is another factor that fails to provide the right to education in many countries. Romani children, for instance, are the victims of discrimination not only in education but also in the right to health and work. The children of Romani do not experience equal access to education as any other across Europe due to some social interventions such as racism, discrimination, and poverty (Greenhaven Press, 2012). There are endless issues that are affecting equitable access to education around the world if we go country by country.

The Issue in Context

Concerning my count, there aren’t any issues of equitable access to education because education in my country is compulsory for all, and the government doesn’t allow any household members to keep their children at home after five years. But, I would like to discuss the equity barriers in Pakistan which I think is pertinent. The study found that there is some equity issue in Pakistan especially in higher education where boys and girls are treated based on the role of women in society, so unique from women around the world (Naich, Junejo, Lashari, and Shah, 2020). According to Moula Bux Naich, Naeem Ahmed Junejo, Akhtar Hussain Lashari, and Muhabat Ali Shah (2020), equity issues in education are some areas that are measured in terms of interests, responsibilities, and opportunities. Therefore, girls in Pakistan face difficulties while achieving their higher education. A position between female and male students is considered seriously pertaining to the right to equal education because girls are traditionally neglected. For instance, there more enrollment of boys in Math and engineering courses are seen than girls. Moreover, sexual harassment in university dormitories during their higher studies forced their parents to retain their daughters at home preventing them from achieving higher education (Naich, Junejo, Lashari, and Shah, 2020). They further stated that it is in Pakistan that women's right to access public spaces and participate in public life is restricted.

According to Ommara Raza Ali and Hannah Hilali (2021), over 22.5 million children, mostly girls are out of school. Pakistan is a country that is struggling to achieve gender equality, especially in the education sector, and girls are not always encouraged to seek education due to cultural barriers (Francis, 2018). Vicki Francis (2018) stated, “The perception that investing in girls’ education does not result in the economic uplift of families deters parents from sending girls to school. When families violate these norms, they can face extreme pressure and hostility from their community and often discontinue their girls’ education when they hit puberty due to fear of harassment, social stigmas, and disapproval.” The issues are pertinent and challenging and need attention.

How Teachers Can Help Affect this Issue

Teachers can play a vital role in curving such issues in various means. Firstly, teachers should focus on providing quality education to students. Education especially for girls should be incentivized through the subsidization of school fees or stipends at every level. Moreover, it is the teacher who can influence male students and the people in society through awareness, explaining why educating girls is important and how it impacts meeting the needs of the family (Ali and Hilali, 2021).

To curb the issue of sexual harassment, a teacher can play a major role by making the learning place a safe and secure place by being vigilant and through the arrangement of better transportation for girls. Moreover, the security of the school or university should be upgraded by seeking help from the management. I believe that teaching in the classroom has a major role in balancing gender equity by promoting equal opportunities so that no girls are left out and no one treats them as inferior beings. The awareness should be created within the classroom that girls are equally superior to boys.

Moreover, awareness for parents is also equally important which a teacher can initiate. It is the teacher who can educate well about the consequences of child marriage both the parents and the students to eliminate the barrier of early marriages. Girl’s empowerment should begin right from primary schooling. Teachers should be always aware of the disparities in education and should prepare to curve it allowing all girls to get enrolled in the school with strict rules on harassment and bullies to stop it. 

Thus, the teacher can stop issues affecting equitable access to education if quality education is taken into consideration.

 

Reference

Ali, O. R, and Hilali, H. (2021). Empowering Girls through Education in Pakistan. Retrieved July 24, 2021 from https://edufinance.org/latest/blog/2021/empowering-girls-through-education-in-pakistan

Francis, V. (2018). "Why is Pakistan facing a crisis in girls' education?" Retrieved July 24, 2021 from https://theirworld.org/voices/pakistan-girls-education-crisis-gender-equality-priority-in-schools

Holford, N. (2016). Displaced children of our time. Retrieved July 24, 2021 from http://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/childhood-youth/displaced-children-our-time

In the Czech Republic, Romani Children Do Not Have Equal Access to Education. (2012). In D. A. Henningfeld (Ed.), Global Viewpoints. Education (pp. 34-41). Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX1756200011/GVRL?u=lirn17237&sid=GVRL&xid=03ee5fd3

(Naich, Junejo, N. A, Lashari, A. H, and Shah, M. A. (2020). Equity Issue in Pakistan: A Study on Higher Education. Retrieved July 24, 2021 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346598359_Equity_Issue_in_Pakistan_A_Study_on_Higher_Education