Sindh literacy rate.

Byline: Muhammad Qamar Abdul Qadir - Karachi

DESPITE consecutive raises in the annual education top, all provinces outshone Sindh in the literacy rate as its school girls' enrolment has declined while the dropout ratio has risen.

The enrolment ratio of school girls in Sindh has declined to 39 per cent compared to 61pc boys. On average, the overall dropout rate in primary classes in Sindh is 23pc, according to an investigation report. The investigative report based on research, interviews of stakeholders and filed observations, says, the main reason of low enrolment and high dropout in rural areas is location of schools five to 10km from villages and other settlements.

Other reasons are corruption from top to taluka level in school funds, the non-availability of transport, poverty, age above 13 (parents disallow girls), harassment of girls along school routes the price hike, and non-availability of female teachers in almost 99pc schools. However, these factors are 50pc low in urban areas and that is why literacy rate in cities and towns is...