How Has Girls’ Education in South Asia Improved?

Girls’ education in South Asia has improved greatly over the centuries. Long-held and deep traditions kept girls from education in South Asia for quite some time. However, many cultural and political changes over the years have contributed to greater access to education for girls.

On April 1, 2009, one country’s Parliament passed the Right to Education ACT (RTA), which stated that education was to become a fundamental right to the 192 million children in the country. Not only that but education was to become free and compulsory for children ages 6 to 14.[1]

It was a landmark decision that opened the opportunity for many children across the highly-populated country. However, the realities of poverty, geography and infrastructure continue to pose challenges to fulfilling this wonderful law.

At the time of the law’s passing, Time Magazine reported, “Forty-six percent of public schools do not have toilets for girls; it’s one reason parents are reluctant to send their daughters to class.”[2]

And though many girls may start school, their parents will face difficult decisions about whether to continue to send them to school, put them in charge of the household or find them a day labor job of their own. They most likely don’t want to deprive any of their children of an education but must see to the basic survival of everyone.


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