GUARDIANS’ DECISION ABOUT GIRLS’ EDUCATION BEYOND PRIMARY LEVEL IN THE NEWLY MERGED DISTRICT BAJAUR OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Girls’ education in general and their education beyond primary level in particular is one of the serious concerns for national and international organizations in the context of developing countries, including Pakistan. The ratio of girls’ post primary education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 23% and 5% in district Bajaur. The issue of girls’ education beyond primary level in the newly merged districts, including District Bajaur, is very dismaying. The aim of this study, thus, is to explore guardians’ decision about girls’ education beyond primary level in District Bajaur. I have attempted to explore the prevailing belief and practices about girls’ education and to unpack the factors that affect girls’ education beyond primary level. The study is qualitative. The data for the study come from 18 in-depth qualitative interviews with male guardians/respondents. The respondents consisted of both literate and illiterate guardians. The respondents were included in the study with the help of purposive sampling technique. The data was processed and analyzed in line with thematic analysis technique. The two key approaches-“Equality of Opportunity in Education” and “Equity of Opportunity in Education” were utilized as theoretical framework for the informed analysis of field data. The study’s findings reveal that the people of district Bajaur are not against girls’ education beyond primary level provided that their daughters and sisters are provided education in the nearby vicinity with reasonable transportation facility. The study also reveals that Purdah (veil) is an opportunity for girls’ education instead of a barrier.