A study based curriculum being designed for youth

Lahore: According to the latest stats, an estimated 103 million Pakistanis i.e 63% of the population, fall under the age of 25. However, as a result of endemic poverty, lack of awareness and education, majority of youth do not have the opportunity to experience
their actual SRH rights. Youth literacy rate (age 15/24) is estimated to be 53% only.

Under such circumstances HAYAT, a project of Lifeline Campaign plans to explore the barriers involved in the learning processes of youth so as to bring out issues of culture, religion, role of parents and communities.

A district work seminar was organized by HAYAT in collaboration with SHEED Society at Fort View Hotel Lahore to understand the SRHR needs of adolescents. The Campaign intends to design a study based curriculum so forth to create political will at federal
and provincial level amid policy makers, opinion leaders and education authorities for the ministerial commitment, to introduce a comprehensive SRHR based curriculum at district level educational system.

Talking to reporters, Project Manager for Lifeline Campaign Mr. Anwar-ul-Haq Tabassum said that youth is the future of Pakistan. Our focus should be on youth’s development because it can lead us to a prosperous tomorrow. He further stated that we have consulted
a large number of religious scholars from three sects in this regard who have educated us on the religious aspect of these matters.

On this occasion, talking to media, son of Badshahi Mosque Lahore’s khateeb Mr. Qari Bilal Ahmad added that “Lack of proper guidance can lead the children to choose wrong company and fall for bad habits”. Lamenting the fact that there is no serious effort
to sensitize 100 million youth on these issues, Mr. Ahmad acknowledged that taking care of the emotional, psychological and health aspects of growing up children are easier said than done in Pakistan where despite media emancipation, the issue remains a taboo
for wide section of society

Highlighting the attitude of parents, Ms. Lubna Tayyab, Secretary General for SHEED Society stated that there are parents who for various reasons, do not want to answer to questions relating to psychological and physiological issues and hence the project
also targets the caretakers (parents and teachers) and motivate them to discuss these issues with their children/students without any inhibition so that the youth may not indulge in self exploration of information out of their natural urge.

Various stakeholders, officials from government, religious scholars, schools teachers, parents and youth took part in the event to marks an important consensus building moment towards SHRH education.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=36276

Posted by Rana Nasir Ghafoor on Dec 17 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry