Education has remained a daunting challenge in Pakistan since day one. With meager resources being allocated thereof, the public sector institutes have been a sorry figure in all the four provinces. In insurgency-hit and poorly governed province of Balochistan, education in general and female education in particular is arguably the biggest casualty. According to figures put forth by Education Department of province, female literacy rate stands at an abysmal 26 percent and it further falls down to a mere miserable 2 percent when it comes to rural areas.
Khuzdar one of the largest districts of the province is no exception to the phenomenon. There are several Union Councils of the District that do not even have a single primary girl’s school.
Under such circumstances, a group of self-motivated people associated with “Mechanism for Rational Change (MERC)” rose up to the occasion and took upon their shoulders the prophetic profession, establishing a community-driven school that can be seen as a ray of hope for promoting girls education in the region.
They established a school called School of Scholars in March 2015 in main city of Khuzdar. This school imparts education to girls up-to class 5th. This school is unique in the sense that it considers its teachers as counselors and mentors of the students and not just teachers imparting education. At the moment, the school only has female staff members who are 7 in number.
This school considers its teachers as counselors and mentors of the students and not just teachers
This school building has 10 rooms which comprise of classrooms, Play rooms, Kids Library, Artificial Zoo and so on. School of Scholars is different in the sense that it uses modern Oxford and Gaba curriculum in a district like Khuzdar. There are daily 30 minute sharing sessions before classes where students share what they did the previous day. This exercise is meant to make them feel relax and gain confidence at the same time.
Teachers of the school are supported beyond payment of salary. Capacity building workshops are held for the teachers after every three months to enhance their professional capacity. School management also pays the educational and examination fees of the teachers who are studying in different institutes and academies.
Background
Sumera Mehboob, born and raised in Khuzdar is the founder and Managing Director (MD) of this school and the idea of school is her own brainchild. Belonging to a middle class family of a humble background, Sumera had to do multiple jobs to support her family. From 2004 to 2014, she worked on many jobs, including teaching and other jobs in social development sector.
In October 2013, Sumera travelled to Michigan State of USA under Legislative fellowship Program (LFP). During her 40 days stay, she studied how schools work there and developed the idea to establish a school in her hometown of Khuzdar.
“Projects like School of Scholars can only be successful when community owns these projects and supports them whole-heartedly,” Sumera Mehboob told Balochistan Voices.
She believes that she has provided an opportunity to acquire quality education to those students who can’t afford to study in either Quetta or Karachi.
Projects like School of Scholars can only be successful when community owns them whole-heartedly – Sumera Mehboob
“In school of scholars children and teachers work hands and glove to achieve a certain standard of quality education, said Hashim Marri Program Manager of the school. He added that educated and enlightened students of the school will bring positive change in society when they become mothers.
Economic Model
This school charges fee from the students based on the socio-economic profile of the parents of the students. Some students pay up to Rs. 500 while others study for free. School of Scholars manages to collect 31,000 rupees per month from the fees that it collects from its 62 students. Total monthly expenses of the school including the salary of teachers and other support staff amount to Rs. 57,000. This means that there is monthly deficit of Rs. 26,000 which is met by the contributions of the 7 core members of the team who carry out professional trainings and contribute towards expenses of the school.
Support of Society
Apart from the economic model of the school, contributions from society also support the school. There are people who have taken responsibility of individual students in the school. These people, who prefer to not to be named, pay the fees and other expenses of the students, on regular basis. Since majority of students live in vicinity of school that’s why parents also help in repair and Maintenance of the school. There is no security guard for the school and it’s guarded by the community itself.
Sumera Mehboob claims that projects like “School of Scholars can’t be” sustainable without active and continuous support of society and urges support of society in making this project viable and independent in near future.
Success Stories
School of Scholars is home to just 62 students so far but it has provided certain success stories in just one year after its inception.
Sidra, a student belonging from underprivileged family was expelled from her last school just because her parents could not afford to pay her fees. She wants to be a doctor and has told the management of this school that she will pay all of her fees once she becomes a doctor. Today she is studying in the school without paying any fee and her fees her paid by a background supporter of the school.
Habiba is another example whose behavior has been transformed by the school. When she was admitted to the school her etiquettes and language were not so refined and was fond of destroying school property. School management made her in-charge of her class and gave her the charge to protect the class room equipment. Now she is managing the class very well and has also given up her troublesome behavior.
Apart from that there are 5 other students who were never adjusted in any schools and were regularly expelled. These students have also been well adjusted in this school.
Shah Jahan Baloch, a development professional, believes that School of Scholars is a participatory learning space for children particularly girls to express themselves in a child friendly and fearless environment.
He added that this school is based on its vision to promote women leadership in Balochistan in various fields and walks of life.
“Unfortunately there is limited support for these kinds of initiatives led by visionary social entrepreneurs like Sumera Mehboob,” Mr. Baloch told Balochistan Voices.
Future plans
Founder of the school believes to strengthen the school and increase the number of students. She also wants to change the method of teaching and introduce e-teaching methodology. “Courses will be converted in E-version and taught using multimedia system,” Sumera Mehboob.
She is also ready to offer her expertise of establishing such a school in other districts but does not want to establish new schools herself because she wants to focus on her existing school.
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