By: Muhammad Ajmal
For girls in Pishin, education is about far more than attending school and passing examinations. Their ability to learn and remain in school is also shaped by health, nutrition, safety, confidence and the support they receive at home and in their communities.
Pishin faces a significant challenge when it comes to girls’ access to education. A study on out-of-school children found that girls accounted for around 65 per cent of all out-of-school children in Pishin. The figure points to a substantial gender gap and raises an important question: getting girls into classrooms is one thing, but what is needed to help them stay there?
Education cannot be separated from the conditions in which children grow up. A child who is hungry, frequently unwell or lacks access to basic hygiene facilities may struggle to concentrate and participate fully in school. For girls, these challenges can be compounded by concerns related to, safety and social expectations.
Nutrition is therefore an important part of the education conversation. Pishin was among the districts covered by the National Nutrition Survey 2018, conducted by the Government of Pakistan in collaboration with UNICEF and DFID. The survey included adolescent girls and collected district-level information on nutrition and related factors.
The survey’s findings provide useful context for understanding the wider conditions affecting children and adolescents. They also underline the importance of looking beyond enrolment figures when discussing educational outcomes.
Schools can play a practical role. Safe drinking water, clean toilets, basic health guidance and age-appropriate information about nutrition and menstrual health can help create a more supportive environment for girls. Teachers can also help students understand healthy eating, personal hygiene and when medical assistance should be sought.
But schools cannot address these challenges alone. Families are equally important. Nutritious food, emotional support and encouragement at home can help girls attend school regularly and participate in their studies with greater confidence.
The connection between education, health and nutrition is often overlooked. Yet these issues are closely intertwined. A healthy girl is better placed to learn, while an educated girl is better equipped to understand her health needs and make informed decisions about her future.
For Pishin, the challenge is therefore not simply to increase girls’ enrolment. It is to create conditions in which they can enter school, stay in school and learn with confidence.
That requires stronger schools, better health and nutrition awareness, trained teachers and greater involvement from parents and communities. Investment in girls’ wellbeing today can help lay the foundation for a healthier, better-educated and more confident Pishin tomorrow.
