'Is there a need to get girls educated?'

"Is there a need to get our girls educated? Whats the use?". These are questions frequently asked by the educationists who go to rural areas to spread awareness about the importance of getting the females educated.



Girls in rural areas have to face many cultural and social problems.One of the most deplorable aspects is that in some places, particularly northern tribal areas, the education of girls is strictly prohibited on religious grounds.This is a gross misinterpretation of Islam,which like other religions urges men and women both to seek knowledge.

Though the need has been felt by some rural parts of Pakistan still alot of girls are not able to acquire education beyound secondary level simply because one does not exist for girls. Though there are a few privately-run middle schools but the fees for such school is so high that the poor families of the village can not afford them.

While the U. N. recommends that developing countries set aside four percent of gross national product (GNP) for education, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) annual report for 2004 shows that spending is still only 1.8 percent of GNP. Thus the annual spending needs to be increased and specially for girls who receive only a small weightage.

There are vast gender and regional disparities between the provinces. While the overall literacy rate in Sindh is 56 percent, it is only 36 percent in Balochistan and substantial disparities also exist at the district level within provinces.

Pakistan's overall literacy rate of 54 percent in 2004 was achieved largely due to an increased emphasis on basic education in the country to achieve the U.N. millennium development goals (MDGs) of universal primary education, according to the SBP report.

But the need for higher education needs to be felt now and secondary schooling should be easily available to those who can build a brighter future for Pakistan.

Ways to improve education in Pakistan

Education in Pakistan is effected by several factors such as the existence of cost effective schools, better curricula and an awareness amongst parents about the importance of education specially in rural areas. But above all the single most important factor is to make sure that the children complete their basic primary education.

However there are institutional reforms that can help improve Pakistans educational sysytem so that it can achieve its goal of completeion of primary education nationwide.

The first reform will be to create decentralisaion that is better education should be provided at village and district level and not only at the bigger cities of the state. The bureaucracy shoul not be allowed to interfer with the needs and requirements of schools at lower levels but should delegate responsilbility to local authorities.

Another step that can be taken to improve the educational system is by providing better support and coordination at district and provincial levels. The most important element of any school is good faculty and the central education body should make sure that the students at the lower levels have this facility.

Finally the last but the most important factor in improving education in Pakistan is to spread awareness amongst the rural population about the necessity of education for both girls and boys. Then annual research should be conducted to compare figures and to learning achievement across schools, districts and regions over time.

My world of perception: Imagine a world without Autism... race 'ya for it!...

My world of perception: Imagine a world without Autism... race 'ya for it!...: "Autismis a brain disorder that often makes it hard to communicate with and relate to others. With , the different areas of the brain fail to..."

I don’t want to feel miserable, but I am.

 

 

Questioning Life & My Options

i've come to a point in my life where I find myself at a crossroad. I’ve been struggling the last 3YEAR and a 5months living with paralysis. It’s impossible to truly express the emotional rollercoaster ride that I’ve been on, since June 2008. I’ve tried my best to be open, about my thoughts and feelings. I’ve tried very hard to convey the magnitude of loss that I sustained, due to my injury, as well as the hardships of living with paralysis on a daily basis. Despite my best efforts, I feel like the average person can never understand how much I’ve suffered and continue to suffer. Words alone, aren’t enough to garnish empathy; sympathy perhaps. Even the people closest to me, that witness all that I have to endure, can never know what it’s like to live in my shoes. Although I often seek advice from other people living with paralysis, the pool of people that have/are lived/living through what I have/am, is very small. .

Paralysis is so unique a state of being, that many times the things I experience (sensations, or lack thereof) have no comparison to when I was working properly . Unless you’ve lived through it, you have no idea what it’s like. Anything you imagine is pale in comparison to what it’s like to live with it. .  . Unfortunately, I do feel phantom pains, pressure and discomfort, that has no real rhyme or reason, and usually has no medical diagnosis, or solution. There is no way to fully grasp how it feels to lose all sense of independence and dignity overnight. My spinal cord injury stole my ability to be self sufficient in a matter of seconds, and I’ve been wrestling with how to cope with the void left behind,  My injury has left me feeling constantly vulnerable, anxious, depressed, full of regret, lost, deprived and scared. While I’ve tried my best to remain positive, despite the bleak reality that a cure is most likely never going to be a reality for me, I feel justified in feeling the way that I do. I’ve made proactive steps ever since day one, to stay as positive and as mentally strong as possible, so that I could somehow keep moving forward, against my inner dissatisfaction of my life and the compromises I’m forced into making every day. I’ve sought counseling, gone to therapy, take an ever growing number of pills (anti-depressants, sleep aides and anti-anxiety meds), share with my peers, write, paint, pray meditate, distraction, etc. and feel like I’m running on vapors and running out of options. I’ve been pushing forward more so for my loved ones, than for myself, and find it increasingly harder to find reason, and/or motivation to essentially keep torturing myself.

I feel as though I’m battling myself, in finding reasons to keep moving forward. In the late hours of the night, I think about my life and the choices I’ve made. I beat myself up over regrets and find myself pleading and begging God to be merciful. Every night, for a long while, I’ve asked God  cure me, or take me. Obviously, I’ve yet to get a response. I can’t help but wrestle with myself over morals and ethics. I wonder if giving up on relying on others is the same as taking my own lifeI’m left wondering if I can find the answers, and if so where? Although part of me feels like a failure, or weak for considering death, I feel like I have the right to know the answers to these questions.
I’m just looking for answers. I don’t expect anyone to advocate the thought of giving up on life. I understand that there are many people that are fine with their lives, and living with paralysis. I also expect that most anyone who reads this will probably try and dissuade me from taking drastic measures and offer me I pep talk. I’m not even saying that I am giving up. I just want to know what my options are, at this point in my life. I realize that I’m at a very low point; that’s precisely why I’m seeking help. I don’t want to feel miserable, but I am.

 

Master The Art Of Being Rejected

How good are you at being rejected? The ability to handle
rejection is one of the most important skills we can master in
life. As you pursue your dreams, there will always be those who
will tell you that you just aren't good enough. The road to the
attainment of our goals is rarely rejection-free. Yet, when doors
are slammed in our faces, many of us conclude we must be on the
wrong track. It is amazing how willing we are to abandon our
heartfelt dreams because someone else doesn't believe in us.

REJECTION AND YOU

It’s hard to be rejected when it’s your art being rejected. It does not come close to the same feeling as not being selected for a team, or a job. It hits a much harder and closer to home plate. The feeling is more closely related to that of being dumped by someone you love, and having all your personal belonging thrown on the lawn when you’re:

A. Not used to being rejected or

B. Look at rejection negatively and lack coping skills on that department

Rejection is never what we want to get into our email, our mailbox or hear in person or on the telephone (including texting). Most of the time when rejection comes we had been waiting for a period of time, holding onto hope, which makes the rejection ever harder to take. We can look at it as a slap in the face or we can change the way we view the rejection, and gain wisdom and move forward and grow.

OPTIMISM
There is no reason for not being optimistic about opportunities you try for because if you always think you will be rejected in fear of losing that high feeling of possibility, you losing the point, and you will be rejected more often with a poor attitude. Always be optimistic but don’t let your world crumble when you don’t get what you want. Having a temper tantrum is a slight turn off, try to avoid that.

CURATORS/EDITORS AND THE OPINIONATED (added via suggestion)
Many times when submitting to something you have the opinion of just a couple people, and sometimes just one person. Note that the person who is looking at the work might be looking for something specific or might have a specific taste, which directly means that it might not be about the quality and how great technically you pull off your craft, but more about the needs of the project.

REJECTION. WHY IS IT GOOD??

1) This means there is room for improvement. It could mean with your art, the way you wrote a submissions, or your attitude. No matter what and who you are, there is always room to improve, and use that rejection as a catapult to get on doing that! Show those people that did not take you on that you are high class, respectable and took what they said with grace, and that you are working to do better and better. This makes them look at you, and keep you in mind for future projects.

2) Rejection makes you humble. It makes you understand that you don’t get everything you want. Who does?

3) Rejection might be keeping you from making a mistake. Maybe the universe is watching out for you making sure your plate is not too full so you don’t overload and fail, and put too much pressure on yourself.

4) Rejection can be informative, motivating and encouraging.

5) Look at it this way: You got rejected, you did not get ignored - which I feel is much worse.

SIX STEPS TO MASTERING THE ART OF REJECTION

In spite of the rejection they encountered, these individuals
persevered. Each was challenged to believe in himself or herself
when others didn't. Each refused to allow someone else's negative
opinion to become a roadblock in the pursuit of lifelong dreams.

You, too, can use the inevitable rejection that comes your way to
fortify your belief in yourself and fuel your progress. Here are
six steps you can take to master the art of being rejected:

1. Let rejection be a signal to go inward, and do some soul- searching. Ask yourself: What do I really desire to create in my
life? Am I pursuing this path because it is truly what I want, or
is it what someone else wants for me? Then write down your goals.

2. Use rejection as an opportunity to better yourself. Ask for
constructive criticism. Take note of any ways you can perform
better next time. Would it help to take a class or read a book on
the subject? Then do it.

3. Reconnect with your inner guidance. Close your eyes and ask
yourself what the next step is for you. Be still and the answer
will come--either right away, or in the next few weeks. Your
inner guidance is always moving you towards something, rather
than away from something. It gently nudges you to take those
actions which will enable the fulfillment of your desires.

4. Remember to lighten up and have fun along the way. When you
are following your bliss, you are in alignment with your higher
purpose. Let your life be a joyful adventure, in which the
journey is as important as the destination. Try not to take
yourself so seriously.

5. Remind yourself that encounters with those who do not believe
in you are an opportunity to strengthen your belief in yourself,
and your commitment to following your inner guidance. Only you
hold the map of your life territory within you. Others cannot
possibly know what is right for you, or what you are capable of
doing, being, or having.

6. Visualize the attainment of your dreams. Put your body in a
comfortable position, either seated or lying down. Close your
eyes, and take some deep breaths. Imagine that it is a year from
now, and that all of your dreams have become a reality. Create a
movie in your mind, in which you live those dreams. Make it as
real as you can. Be lighthearted and playful with your
imagination. Get excited about it. Use all of your senses. Don't
worry if you can't see things clearly--its okay if you just sense
what it feels like to have attained your goals.

7. Celebrate your rejections, for they are a sure sign that you
are stepping out of your comfort zone and living your life to the
fullest!

And finally rejection is not failure. 

*Aisha chaudhary*

Read more at http://www.articlealley.com/article_7080_24.html?ktrack=kcplink