From Classroom to Leadership: KP’s Girls Elevate Education Discourse

Shahzad Rasheed

PESHAWAR: In a robust move, representation of young girls’ leaders from “Rise and Shine Network” presented a comprehensive Charter of Demand to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, offering invaluable recommendations on policy and structural reforms to enhance the state of girls’ secondary education in the province.

Rise and Shine: Girls’ Education Leaders Network, is a young girls-led network in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, established by Blue Veins in collaboration with the Pakistan Education Champion Network (PECN), proudly standing as the first network of its kind where girls are the leaders.

The central mission of this network is to empower and fortify girls’ leadership, ensuring that they are at the forefront of championing the cause of girls’ education in KP. This network serves as a platform for the voices of these girls to aptly articulate concerns related to education, pushing forward a spirited movement focused on ensuring girls’ access to quality education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Taking proactive measures, these young leaders have organized one-on-one meetings with top officials from the Elementary & Secondary Education Department, the Child Welfare & Protection Commission, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women, and other pertinent departments.

Mohammad Ijaz Khan, Acting Chief, Child Welfare & Protection Commission “Having reviewed the recommendations from the Rise and Shine Girls Network, I find them concrete and of significant value. We will actively engage with the relevant stakeholders and ensure our Commission plays its role diligently. It’s truly heartening to witness the leadership of these young girls, voicing and taking charge of their issues with such conviction.” Girls’ leadership is important in shaping a future where gender equity is a norm, not an exception. Their voices bring fresh perspectives, challenge old norms, and inspire transformative change. When girls lead, they not only uplift themselves but set a precedent for generations to come.” He added.

Mr. Qamar Naseem, the Malala Fund Girls Education Champion and National Co-convener of the Pakistan Education Champion’s Network, Said, “The future of our nation lies in empowering our girls. Their leadership is not just about education; it’s about rights, emancipation, and reshaping society. Every girl in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and beyond has the right to education, and these young leaders are the torchbearers of this monumental change.”