“Acquiring knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim.” By Muslim it means every man and woman. It is a famous hadees read by all of us since our childhoods. It is sturdily observed that in Pakistan religion is used to deprive women of education though Islam clearly gave women the right to get education. The tribal and feudal system in our country and negligence of government towards this issue is the central reason of the stumpy literacy rate in Pakistan. The issue of women education in Pakistan must be raised on national and international level. Keeping in view the importance and vulnerability of this issue teachers (Miss Tooba and Miss Saima) of mass communication department of Jinnah University for Women arranged a seminar titled “BEYOND BARRIERS”.
The seminar started with the recitation of The Holy Quran and Naat. The chairperson of mass communication department Professor Ahmed Nasim Sandilvi gave the keynotes on the importance of women education. He said that “An educated woman can lead to an educated family.” He also highlighted the problems faced by the working women in our society. He stated that working women left their children to the ayahs which result in good health of the ayahs but not the children. This statement was not appreciated by the other guests.
The seminar become attention-grabbing when Mrs. Iqbal-un-Nisa Vice president of Women Aid Trust enlighten the problems faced by women prisoners in Pakistan. Women Aid Trust is an independent non-governmental organization devoted to plummeting the suffering of women in penitentiary in Pakistan. She told that most of the prisoners are from lower class of our country. She said we provide vocational training to women in Karachi central jail which include handicraft, computer program, psychological counseling, art work, Islamic programs etc. she further said that we also offer education and vocational training in the juvenile prison so that the children there don’t get in the evil hands. She revealed that currently they have 51 children studying under Montessori class. She also said that we arrange for students to give matric exams in collaboration with Allama Iqbal Open University and diploma courses are given as well. She was of the view that due to the lack of knowledge women are unaware of their rights so they find wrong ways to get rid of their cruel husbands. It is our duty to educate them about their rights and laws so that they can lead a life with all moral and ethical values.
This topic was further elaborated by Zainab Muneer who is an MBA and giving computer courses in Karachi Central Jail. She highlighted the courses which involve CIT, Advance CIT and Urdu Impage XP. She disclosed that 11 women qualified from our trainings in 2009 in Karachi Women Prison. Students are also given certificates but it is not mentioned in their certificates that they have acquired this knowledge inside jail. She said “our target is to rehabilitate their skills.” She also asked the students to join them for internships or volunteer work as Bahria University students did.
Professor Shahida Kazi a professor at Jinnah University for Women and the first female reporter in Pakistan started with the comparison of the situation of women education in past with that of the present. She said in “1950s women had only two choices either join medical or arts but in 1960s a silent revolution came in women education and girls realized that they can do anything man can do but actually can do it better than man.”
She was of the opinion that 1960s was the best era for women education because in this tenure Pakistan had first woman bank manager, architect, engineer and journalist.
Then in 1970s first women federal secretary also appeared in the scene. She said first time in constitution women was given equal rights. She further said that since today’s women has more education opportunities than our time period but they don’t want to work because of the psychological factor that women are born to run households only.
She said there is a need to change the roots of education system. According to her subjects related to social sciences must be taught from the school level to broaden the minds of young generation.
The chairperson of mass communication department of The University of Karachi, Rafia Taj commented on the opinion of Professor Nasim that man and women both are responsible for children’s rearing. She stated that man always talk about our duties but never talk about our rights. This statement received great applause by the audience. She expressed her views by quoting giving religious references like she said Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W.W) declared women as the fourth pillar of the society. She said it has been largely reported that women earn more and are highly successful in achieving good posts. She said several researches has proved that a woman’s mind work more efficiently than that of a man. She gave examples of Fatima Jinnah standing in elections against Ayub Khan and Jang-e- Uhad when women played a great role in war. She said that Women and Studies department of K.U has issued a directory of working women according to which 80% of the women are running their own business.
Professor Dr. Rehana Ali Shah the first female qualified orthopedic surgeon in Sindh speaking as the chief guest of the event stated that there is no doubt in saying that women has to work four times as man in order to prove her abilities. She further said a woman has to build a good society. She can do a lot of things by utilizing her mental skills. She also said that women can change the mentality of man. She was of the vision that 54% of the population is woman in Pakistan so they must do something for the betterment of their country they should not crush their abilities. Women must end this psychological trauma without crossing the boundaries of social and ethical responsibilities. She compared western world to the eastern and said eastern world has more examples of women achievements like we had women prime ministers etc. she also commented on the view of Prof. Nasim that both man and woman are responsible for the nurturing of children.
The Vice chancellor of Jinnah University for women, Professor. Dr. Riaz Ahmed Hashmi was the president of the seminar said that for 11 years I was against the separate institution for girls. He further said that we believe in the fact that an educated woman can change the society which can change the state. He was of the opinion that a mother builds the character of the nation. So it is very necessary for her to be educated. He stated that no one can snatch the knowledge you have. It will remain with you till the end of your life.
In the end of the seminar the guests were given shields and the teachers and students who organized the seminar received certificates from the guests. Keeping the tradition of always doing something exciting and erudite the teachers and students of Jinnah University (mass communication dept) did it once again to illuminate one of the basic issues of our society which was highly appreciated by the students, guests and teachers.
Equality is the first step to bring revolution.
