The Pencils and Erasers Foundation

Let us talk about a country that in every field stands tall with other nations but lacks the most important tool needed for progress and prosperity, education. Although the backbone of any nation’s progress, access to education in Pakistan is a distant dream for tens of millions of marginalized children. Our education system is struggling with inequalities and inefficiencies that affect every stratum of the state’s heterogeneous society. These difficulties reflect the societal challenges that hold back millions of young minds from having access to a fundamental and basic human right. It is a silent tragedy, unfolding in every village, town and city and a dream shackled by poverty, ignorance and negligence.

This situation gets more disheartening when it comes to rural areas, where many of the challenges faced by schools in the inner cities are more pronounced in the countryside. From children walking miles to reach schools due to the lack of adequate infrastructure, to overcrowded classrooms led by under-resourced and overworked teachers, rural Pakistan throws additional hurdles in front of eager children excited to learn. Furthermore, the challenges are not just structural but also ideological, with the curriculum followed in rural schools failing to meet the demands of the modern world. Hence, the dreams of these children of becoming doctors, engineers, teachers and future leaders are crushed and remain unfulfilled, thereby perpetuating a cycle of socioeconomic inequality and marginalization.

Yet, amidst the gloom, there are rays of hope shining through to bring rural children closer to their goals. Many non-governmental organizations, like Pencils and Erasers, are working tirelessly to bring education to the marginalized and disenfranchised. Moreover, social entrepreneurs are setting up schools in remote areas and passionate individuals are raising awareness about the importance of education for all.

Fixing Pakistan’s education system is not an impossible task. It requires our collective efforts and renewed persistence and determination. As citizens of Pakistan, we are all responsible for playing our respective parts. So, the next time we see a child selling flowers on the roadside or working in a tea stall, we must ask ourselves, what can we do to change this? It is time to unshackle the dreams of our children and equip them with wings to fly. The future of Pakistan depends on education which in turn depends on us.

A brief intro piece by Hania Malik.

Staff Writer,

Pencils and Erasers.