Quality science education termed key to progress

MINGORA: An art and science exhibition was held at the Government Girls High School in Saidu Sharif to mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science here on Saturday. 

The objective of the activity, according to the organisers, was to polish the talents of students through different models, projects, creative work, and to highlight the importance of the day.

“The students practically showed their talents through the models and replicas, which they had displayed in their stalls,” Fazilat Akbar, principal of the school, told The News. The students prepared models related to environment, culture, engineering and arts.

Swat, the land of Malala Yousafzai, is having little access for girls to excel in mathematics and science education. Education activist Dr Jawad Iqbal said that quality education was a basic requirement for improving the lives of people in Swat. However, currently, there are 1,631 government schools in Swat, out of which 1,242 are primary level schools, indicating that almost 80 percent of the total government schools in the district cater only to the primary level needs, while there are only 132 middle schools.

“Out of the 1631 government schools, only 36 percent (593) schools are for girls and 1038 schools are for boys,” Dr Jawad maintained. In a recent report published by non-governmental organization Alif Ailaan, in district education ranking 2017, Swat stands on 86 out of 151 districts in Pakistan.

A student of FSc, Rabia, said that most often they miss their practical work due to lack of chemicals in the institution’s laboratory.

Another student, Sofia Imran, added that being a student of computer science, they haven’t worked in their computer labs due to power loadshedding.

Kalsoom, who has made a robot, said that she loved science and would prepare more models with the guidance of her teachers. She said that they can compete with the world in science if the government gives them proper attention.

Last year a student of grade 9, Tahira Muhammad, contributed in science with limited resources. Referring to her work in the IT sector at an early age, Tahira said she developed a software for a local government for issuing birth certificates. Besides, she also developed a software for an NGO to store data of women who became victims of domestic violence.