A Survey of 133 Government Girls Primary Schools in Pakistan

The government is spending an average of Rs 1,670 per year for each girl enrolled in primary schools nationwide, based on budgetary data provided to FAFEN Governance Monitors in May 2010. The FAFEN Education Institution Monitor concludes that an inadequate number of teaching posts have been sanctioned for girls primary schools, especially in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and FATA. One teacher is available for 37 girl students in the girls primary schools visited by FAFEN in Punjab, the worst ratio of girl students per teacher in the country.

The ratio of girl students per teacher in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 34, demonstrating public interest in sending girls to school and the need for government to sanction more teaching positions for girls schools in this region. However, only two teachers were serving in a FATA school with a healthy population of 175 girls.

Teacher and student attendance at girls primary schools in Punjab also should be a matter for government concern. Of the 19 schools in FAFEN’s sample with less than 75% teacher attendance, 12 were in Punjab. Teacher attendance in five Punjab girls schools was less than half. Similarly, 15 out of 56 schools in Punjab (27%) had student attendance below 75% on the day of FAFEN monitoring, as did 17 out of 36 (47%) monitored primary schools in Sindh.

On the other hand, monitored girls primary schools in Balochistan all had better than 75% student attendance, as did 27 out of 30 schools (90%) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. FAFEN Education Institution Monitor is based on data gathered from 133 Government Girls Primary Schools across the country during the month of May 2010. FAFEN Governance Monitors visited 56 girls schools in 31 districts of Punjab, 30 schools in 21 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, seven schools in seven districts of Balochistan, 38 girls schools in 23 districts of Sindh and one school each in Islamabad Capital Territory and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.


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