TUTORIAL PROJECT, PESHAWAR

General Information

Local Partner

St. John's Vianney Girls' High School

Geographical Area

The North West Frontier Province of Pakistan borders Afghanistan, China, Jammu and Kashmir. Peshawar is the Capital of the N.W.F.P.

Background Information

The North West Frontier Province, in which Peshawar is situated, is a very conservative region that has a tribal belt along the Afghanistan border. These tribes are often in conflict with one another. They all however have one thing in common, they are a very proud people and the men see their women as 'their honour'. Accordingly the women are always expected to behave in such a manner that they do not bring dishonor to their fathers and brothers. From the onset of puberty, many girls are expected to remain within the family home and contact with the world and its people becomes severely restricted. If girls are being educated, it is at this stage that they are often withdrawn from school and are therefore deprived of higher education. Tribal and conservative customs color or spill over into the life and attitudes of many people. People in the area need education and a lot of support to see the value of Education for women at the primary and especially at the secondary level. They also need to see education occurring in a 'safe' environment so that the 'honour' of the men is protected.

Education Statistics

According to the 1998 census, 43.92% of Pakistanis above the age of 10 are literate. Two out of every three Pakistanis living in the rural areas are illiterate with female illiteracy percentage as high at 80%. The dropout rate of children in primary schools varies from 40 to 60%. Factors responsible for this colossal waste, apart from poor and illiterate parents, are poor learning conditions in schools, unmotivated and incapable teachers, absenteeism of teachers, overcrowding and the distant location of schools.

Education System in Pakistan

This is divided into the following sections:

Primary

Preparatory (KG) to class 5

Middle

Classes 6-8

High

Class 9-10 (Class 10 is Matriculation)
F.A. (Faculty of Arts) and F.Sc (Faculty of Science). F.A. Students can attend college or they can study as private candidates. They purchase the books, study them and present as private candidates for exams.
F.Sc. students must study in college.

Tertiary

Undergraduate courses. B.A. students can attend college or study as private candidates, masters, college or as private candidates. All science courses must be done in the colleges

Program Specifics

Program Background

This project began in 1998 and was initially part of the Mercy Family Welfare Services, Gulbahar, Peshawar City. It began in conjunction with the principal of St John Vianney Girls High School Peshawar City, because it was important that the program was located close to where the students live. At a later date the principal of St. John Vianney, a Sister of Mercy, took responsibility for the program, however she returned to Australia in 2003.

Because of the importance of the program for the girls in the area, the Sisters of Mercy decided to continue the program. Initially it was to provide tutorial assistance to girls who were doing their F.A. privately. This was later extended to include B.A. private students.

Project Aim

The primary aim of this tutorial program is to provide a safe environment for a number of girls to accomplish their secondary and tertiary education.

It aims to promote education among young women from culturally conservative backgrounds whose fathers/brothers would not allow them to attend college. Some men will allow their daughters to attend private well supervised tuition classes. Students who also come from impoverished backgrounds who cannot afford to attend college can also attend the classes.

Project Objectives

To enable young women to do F.A and B.A classes after they accomplish their matriculation.

Beneficiaries/Target Population

At present there are 22 students and we would expect that this would be the average number for the next three years. F.A. students attend the program for 2 years. B.A. students attend for 2 years. Therefore there is a considerable amount of changeover and individual tutorial/supervision is important for each students.

Phase-out Strategy

Because of the importance of this program for the girls, the Sisters of Mercy do not want to phase out this program while there is still an expressed need.

This program requires financial assistance. The Sisters of Mercy have seen to the funding arrangements for this program in the past and seek funding from Mercy works to fund it into the future.

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