New Initiative Gives Drop-Outs in Pakistan a Second Chance

Country:

Pakistan

Author:

Beenish Ahmed
Grantee

English

Pakistan is home to more out-of-school children than almost any country in the world. And there's...

Beenish Ahmed
Grantee

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The two room schoolhouse where Plan International runs a fast track education program for women who dropped out of school doesn’t have many facilities, but the 15 or so students have been attending classes here for two years say it’s offered them a chance to restart their lives. Image by Beenish Ahmed. Pakistan, 2013.

Nilofer Bano Armanshah reviews a lesson on homonyms to help her students prepare for the 9th and 10th grade board exams. She teaches at a two-room school run by the NGO Plan International, which offers women who dropped out of school a chance to complete their studies. Image by Beenish Ahmed. Pakistan, 2013.

Sumairah Younis, 30, sits at the back of the Madame Nilofer’s class with her daughter Amen in her lap. Younis says juggling her responsibilities as a mother with her schoolwork has been a very real challenge for her over the last two years. Image by Beenish Ahmed. Pakistan, 2013.

Over five million children do not attend school in Pakistan. Yet many more adults who dropped out of primary school were unable to re-enroll due to age restrictions. Now, non-profit organization Plan International offers an intensive curriculum to give these former dropouts a chance at graduating.