Struggling against the Odds of Poverty, Access, and Gender: Secondary Schooling for Girls in Pakistan

Abstract

While schooling outcomes for girls have improved over the period 2001–11, progress has been uneven within Pakistan. Rural girls lag far behind urban girls and progress across the provinces remains unequal. The transition to secondary school—in some ways more critical for improving employability, reproductive health, and other outcomes—shows even more disparate progress by province and income class. Questions about the preference for public versus private schools and the actual choice of schools available to girls in most rural areas need to be answered if we are serious about a rapid escalation of secondary school enrollments for girls. We use data from the Pakistan Integrated Household Survey for 2001/02 and the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLMS) for 2007/08 and 2010/11 to look at patterns in this transition. Access is likely to be the main driving force behind the transition to secondary-level schooling. Initial findings reflect the almost total reliance on public schools for 10–14-year-old girls. This suggests that private secondary schools are not an option for girls in rural areas. The next major intervening factor is household income level: even rich families appear to favor public schools for girls. The data also suggest that girls from poor and large families compete with their brothers and other siblings for limited resources.

Adolescent girls' voices on enhancing their own productivity in Pakistan

“…Communities in both urban and rural areas are moving towards higher girl's enrollment in private primary schools as they are becoming more available in their vicinity. A similar but less dramatic pattern is observed in secondary enrolment (Sathar, Wazir and Sadiq 2013).…”

“…Table 1.2 indicates clearly that the gender gap in enrolment remains largely a rural phenomenon; in urban areas, female enrolment is nearly at par with male enrolment at the primary level, and has actually exceeded male enrolment at the secondary level. Notably, Lloyd, Mete and Grant found considerably more urban parents (93 percent) than rural parents (80 percent) expressing the aspiration that their daughters obtain secondary or higher education (2007, in Sathar, Wazir andSadiq 2013).…”

“…In recent years, private schooling has grown rapidly in Pakistan, catering not just to high-and middleincome families but also to poorer households (Majid 2012 in Sathar, Wazir andSadiq 2013). Private schools are often perceived to offer better quality services and there is evidence that they lead to greater achievement in mathematics and language compared to public schools (Alderman et al 2001 in Sathar, Wazir andSadiq 2013). Communities in both urban and rural areas are moving towards higher girl's enrollment in private primary schools as they are becoming more available in their vicinity.…”

Induced Abortions and Unintended Pregnancies in Pakistan

“…To achieve an effective expansion of family planning services, the health sector has to mobilize its large network of services. This requires a realization within the health sector that family planning is an essential part of maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) service provision and primary health care (Sathar, Wazir, and Sadiq 2013). At present, the provision of MNCH remains separated from family planning services.…”

Induced abortions and unintended pregnancies in Pakistan, 2012

“…Pakistan's high abortion rate, particularly in Sindh and Baluchistan, suggests a strong need for a robust FP program and better access to such services. Expanding the availability of FP services requires a realization by the health sector that FP is an essential part of maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) service provision and primary health care (Sathar, Wazir, Sadiq 2013). Currently, MNCH delivery and FP service provision remain segregated.…”