Sindh Leads the Way: Pakistan's First Transgender Education Policy Draft Approved
Sindh's Education Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, has approved Pakistan's first-ever Transgender Education Policy draft, introducing a dedicated gender category for transgender students in admission forms and mandating a job quota for transgender individuals in teaching positions. This policy aims to combat systemic exclusion and discrimination faced by the transgender community in the education sector. The draft will now be presented to the Sindh cabinet for legal approval, with high-ranking officials, including Secretary Zahid Ali Abbasi and Adviser Fozia Khan, lauding the initiative.
According to the 2023 national census, Pakistan has 20,331 transgender individuals, with 4,222 in Sindh. USAID research highlights that 42% of transgender individuals in Pakistan have minimal literacy, and 40% lack access to education entirely. Minister Shah emphasized the deep-rooted societal prejudices that hinder their access to education, stressing the absence of a tailored curriculum and the urgent need for inclusive systemic reforms.
The inclusion of a job quota for transgender teachers aims to empower the community by providing them with respectable employment opportunities. Minister Shah reiterated that education is crucial for securing a dignified future for transgender individuals. If approved, this groundbreaking policy could inspire similar reforms in other provinces, showcasing Pakistan's commitment to social justice and inclusivity.
Sindh's Education Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, has approved Pakistan's first-ever Transgender Education Policy draft, introducing a dedicated gender category for transgender students in admission forms and mandating a job quota for transgender individuals in teaching positions. This policy aims to combat systemic exclusion and discrimination faced by the transgender community in the education sector. The draft will now be presented to the Sindh cabinet for legal approval, with high-ranking officials, including Secretary Zahid Ali Abbasi and Adviser Fozia Khan, lauding the initiative.
According to the 2023 national census, Pakistan has 20,331 transgender individuals, with 4,222 in Sindh. USAID research highlights that 42% of transgender individuals in Pakistan have minimal literacy, and 40% lack access to education entirely. Minister Shah emphasized the deep-rooted societal prejudices that hinder their access to education, stressing the absence of a tailored curriculum and the urgent need for inclusive systemic reforms.
The inclusion of a job quota for transgender teachers aims to empower the community by providing them with respectable employment opportunities. Minister Shah reiterated that education is crucial for securing a dignified future for transgender individuals. If approved, this groundbreaking policy could inspire similar reforms in other provinces, showcasing Pakistan's commitment to social justice and inclusivity.