Almost 75% Of Pakistani Girls Are Not In School

According to a recent UN and Pakistani government report, a whopping 75% of girls in that country do not attend school.

“Nearly half of primary school age children are not enrolled in school and among eligible girls the out of school proportion is closer to three-quarters. In absolute numbers, out-of-school girls outnumber their male counterparts."

“Completion rates to the fifth year of schooling have actually declined in the past five years.”

Fifty-five percent of all Pakistani adults are illiterate and among women the rate is closer to 75 percent, it added.

“Females in Pakistan face discrimination, exploitation and abuse at many levels, starting with girls who are prevented from exercising their basic rights to education either because of traditional family practices, economic necessity or as a consequence of the destruction of schools by militants.”

The government is trying to change that by allocating funds to ensure that every female child is educated.

On Monday, President Asif Ali Zardari pledged $10 million to help educate all girls by 2015 as part of a global fund set up in Malala’s name.

Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala’s father, a former teacher and headmaster, has been appointed to help meet the global target.

The problem is, $10 million isn't going to accomplish much when what really needs to be addressed and dealt with is the chauvinistic,  misogynistic attitude of the Taliban and others who believe that women  should remain home, barefoot and pregnant, and that's not going to change any time soon.