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Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Engaged mothers: finding the missing link in girls' education
Listen to article Since the 1990s, Pakistan has introduced various initiatives, action plans and structural reforms in the education sector, with a dedicated focus on promoting girls' education. While these programmes have yielded progress, expanding school coverage, improving instruction and delivery and enhancing facilities, one crucial question remains: why have decades of efforts not translated into long-lasting, transformative results? Despite advancements, the country continues to grapple with high numbers of out-of-school girls and even greater female learning poverty. As of 2022-23, around 13.71 million girls remain out of school, while the female literacy rate from the 2023 Population Census stands at just 52.5 per cent, indicating that nearly half of the female population is illiterate. These dismal figures not only reflect lost potential but also hinder women's ability to contribute as functional members of society. While external factors like the pandemic, persistent floods, climate-induced disasters, growing poverty and instability have exacerbated the crisis, deeply entrenched sociocultural norms remain a significant barrier. The oft-cited reasons for low female enrollment include poverty and societal perceptions. According to the World Bank, girls from low-income families are 52 per cent less likely to attend school than their wealthier counterparts. To address this, the government has introduced cash transfer programmes to incentivise enrollments and recently initiated school meal programmes in several districts. However, the more complex challenge lies in shifting sociocultural norms and beliefs. Many families remain disinterested in girls' education beyond the primary level, considering it unnecessary due to socially designated gender roles, where girls are expected to be caregivers and homemakers while boys assume the role of breadwinners. Addressing this requires more than community engagement — it demands systemic and societal change. One powerful yet often overlooked solution is engaging mothers. Research has consistently shown that educated mothers lead to educated daughters and positively influence overall learning quality. A growing body of literature further suggests that a mother's agency plays a decisive role in her daughter's education. While agency stems from multiple factors, financial empowerment is among the most critical. This academic premise was reinforced by real-world evidence when Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education (PAGE) implemented an intervention for highly vulnerable Afghan refugee communities across eight districts, including Lakki Marwat, Haripur, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mansehra, Rawalpindi, Quetta and Karachi. The Action for Gender Equity in Education project provided an inclusive learning environment, foundational knowledge and essential skills for Afghan girls. However, the initiative went a step further by targeting the community as a whole, engaging women — mostly mothers — in skill-building programmes, including vocational training, digital marketing and language proficiency courses. The impact was profound. A total of 794 students (including boys) were enrolled, while 353 Afghan women and girls participated in the bootcamp and 611 graduated from the language and cultural programme. Language barriers often limit Afghan women's market access and render low self-confidence, so the language programmes were aimed at removing these hurdles. Similarly, the marketing bootcamp included exhibitions to provide hands-on experience in sales and business operations. To measure the intervention's effectiveness, a sample of girls and women was tracked. All participants reported an increase in decision-making power at the household level. More strikingly, 58 per cent of those who were unemployed before the bootcamp started generating income post-intervention, with 80 per cent of all graduates earning some form of income. Among language and cultural programme graduates, 98 per cent reported increased self-confidence — a crucial factor in fostering agency. A particularly revealing outcome emerged when mothers were surveyed post-programme. Those who participated in the marketing bootcamp and language programmes showed a significantly higher recognition of the importance of children's education. Ninety per cent of involved mothers reported actively supporting their children's education at home, compared to just 15 per cent of uninvolved (neutral) mothers. Furthermore, 86 per cent of engaged mothers observed improvements in their children's academic performance and attitude, compared to only 30 per cent among neutral mothers. Perhaps most notably, 76 per cent of participating mothers said they would advocate for their children's education in the face of family restrictions, compared to a mere 13 per cent of uninvolved mothers. These findings are even more remarkable considering the communities in question — ones marked by extreme poverty, displacement and conflict. If such interventions can yield significant results under these circumstances, they can be equally, if not more, effective in other marginalised communities. Policymakers must recognise this missing link in education promotion. While spreading awareness about the importance of girls' education is essential, direct engagement with mothers is far more impactful in countering sociocultural resistance. A holistic approach to girls' education is more urgent than ever. We have spent years increasing the number of schools, expanding classrooms, introducing cash transfers, and even launching school meal programmes. While these efforts are necessary, they remain incomplete without parental engagement, particularly that of mothers. When we empower mothers, we influence entire households, including fathers and other male family members. A truly transformative education strategy must recognise that an educated, financially empowered mother is not just an asset to her family — she is the key to breaking the cycle of illiteracy and poverty for generations to come.
Maroc
02-05-2025
- Business
- Maroc
Rabat to Host Green Nexus Week on May 19-23
Green Nexus Week, a landmark event for sustainable development and leadership in green economy, will be held on May 19-23 in Rabat, a press release from the organizers says. Organized under the auspices of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a joint initiative of five UN agencies (UNDP, UNEP, ILO, UNIDO, UNITAR) and led by UNIDO-Morocco in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, this gathering aims to highlight Morocco's leadership in environmental governance, green policy innovation and sustainable development, the same source points out. This Week will feature two major events, namely the 3rd Green Crossroads Conference and the 1st PAGE Regional Green Academy, both designed to foster dialogue, showcase innovative solutions and promote regional cooperation across Africa and beyond, the press release adds. The 3rd Green Crossroads Conference (May 19-20, 2025), under the theme 'Strengthening bridges towards a green and sustainable economy', will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors, civil society, academia and international organizations, with the aim of presenting innovative solutions for sustainable impact and promoting South-South cooperation. The inaugural PAGE Green Regional Academy for Africa, led by UNIDO in collaboration with UNEP, UNDP, ILO, UNITAR, ICT-ILO and the Ministry, will bring together experts and government representatives from across the continent to explore strategies for financing an just transition to green and circular economies. Participants in this Academy, which will take place in two phases (an online phase from April 28 to May 9, 2025, followed by an in-person session in Rabat) will take part in capacity-building workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions and discussions focusing on scaling innovative solutions that promote equal access to decent green jobs and strengthen South-South cooperation on emerging industries. According to UNIDO's Representative in Morocco, Sanae Lahlou, the Regional Academy marks an milestone in regional capacity-building for green economy action. 'It offers African nations, including Morocco, a unique space to share strategies and scale solutions that are both sustainable and inclusive', she added. MAP: 30 avril 2025
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Policy to teach Asean languages draws flak
PETALING JAYA: The government's plan to introduce Asean languages such as Thai, Khmer and Vietnamese in schools has drawn the ire of education stakeholders, who warn that it risks derailing more pressing academic goals. Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) founder Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim questioned the relevance of the move, cautioning that Malaysia could be 'spreading itself too thin' without first reinforcing core subjects such as English, Bahasa Malaysia (BM), Mandarin, Science and Mathematics. 'We shouldn't bite off more than we can chew. Asean may be the buzzword of the day, but the education minister must remember that the official language of Asean has always been English.' She said rather than Malaysia teaching regional languages, countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia should focus on improving their own English language standards. 'Vietnam is already ahead of us in English, with Thailand close behind. As for Cambodia, it has its own educational hurdles to address.' Azimah said the government's priorities seem out of sync with what most parents want. 'Parents are more concerned with boosting literacy, numeracy and proficiency in English, BM and Mandarin, particularly in Science and Maths.' She also criticised the excessive focus on BM and religious subjects, which she said had pushed English and Mandarin to the sidelines. 'The ministry has failed parents. It should be investing in impactful programmes such as the Dual Language Programme (DLP) which allows students to study Science and Maths in English.' She suggested reallocating the Asean language budget to strengthen BM proficiency among students excluded from DLP. 'Once their BM improves, they can be reassessed, and their (command of) English will benefit too.' Azimah dismissed the practicality of rolling out Asean languages at scale, adding that schools are already stretched. 'Let's not even go there. Focus on English and Mandarin,' she said, describing the policy as a political gimmick that piles unnecessary pressure on students. 'It's purely symbolic and doesn't involve our children, who already have enough on their plates. Stay focused on existing priorities – deepen and elevate them, or risk being a 'Jack of all trades, master of none'.' Meanwhile, former university lecturer Dr Sharifah Munirah Alatas said the policy lacks coherence, and risks becoming another short-lived initiative that sidesteps the deeper issues in the education system. 'My main question is: What's the logic? Are our children even truly bilingual yet?' she said in a post on her Facebook page. Munirah said while exposure to regional languages may sound appealing, it is necessary to first build a solid foundation in BM and English. 'Why not master English first? Channel all resources into developing a truly bilingual generation.' She also raised doubts over teacher quality and preparedness, asking whether there has been any proper planning. 'When politicians introduce new languages, don't we need competent teachers?' she said, while calling for better integration with teacher training. Munirah criticised the absence of evidence-based policymaking, urging the government to draw on existing data as well as consult universities, think tanks and the public. 'But is there political will?' Pointing to the now-suspended PPSMI (Teaching of Science and Maths in English) policy, she said students have long suffered from inconsistent reforms. 'Instead of flashy policies like Asean language electives, publish solid research on how falling school standards impact university outcomes. 'Ideas such as Asean languages may look good, but do they really build a more competitive, united and forward-thinking Malaysia?' In response, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek clarified yesterday that the introduction of Asean languages will not sideline existing subjects as they would only be offerred as electives. She urged the public not to politicise the move, adding that foreign languages have long been part of Malaysia's elective curriculum, with core languages such as BM, Mandarin and Tamil.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Think About Buying PageGroup plc (LON:PAGE) Now?
While PageGroup plc (LON:PAGE) might not have the largest market cap around , it received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the LSE over the last few months, increasing to UK£3.77 at one point, and dropping to the lows of UK£3.01. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether PageGroup's current trading price of UK£3.30 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let's take a look at PageGroup's outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for PageGroup Great news for investors – PageGroup is still trading at a fairly cheap price according to our price multiple model, where we compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. We've used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because there's not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stock's ratio of 20.42x is currently well-below the industry average of 29.4x, meaning that it is trading at a cheaper price relative to its peers. However, given that PageGroup's share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. Future outlook is an important aspect when you're looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that it's the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by 54% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for PageGroup. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Are you a shareholder? Since PAGE is currently below the industry PE ratio, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current price multiple. Are you a potential investor? If you've been keeping an eye on PAGE for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its buoyant future profit outlook isn't fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means it's not too late to buy PAGE. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed investment decision. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing PageGroup at this point in time. At Simply Wall St, we found 2 warning signs for PageGroup and we think they deserve your attention. If you are no longer interested in PageGroup, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
