Dealing with Gender Disparity in Educational Setting: A Case of Primary Schools in a Karachi’s Town

Abstract

The significant factors for the increased gender disparity within Pakistan are the parental unequal treatment towards the different genders of their children, girls, and boys under normal routine. Furthermore, societal aspirations can also be stated as the leading cause of gender disparity. This study aimed to focus on addressing the area of gender disparity in primary school education in the country. Employing an in-depth analysis method, semi-structured interviews were conducted from the parents living in Landhi Town, having two or more male and female children aged between five and ten years. Several themes and sub-themes, supposed to be the leading factors for gender disparity in the country, emerged in the result of data analysis gathered via the interviews. The most significant identified factors include poverty, school proximity, security issues, social issues and perception of parents regarding the importance of girls’ education. Therefore, policy makers and educationists are recommended to pay attention to parental awareness programs and the social issues associated with gender disparity in primary education.

Keywords

• gender disparity
• poverty
• primary education
• security
• social issues