Adolescent and women's education help Muslim women find path to change

Mahottari - Until eight months ago, letters had no meaning for 35 year-old Rajiya Khatun of Samsi Rural Municipality in Mahottari who used to see her existence in just doing household duties. 

But, with her entry to the adolescent and women's education classes launched in her locality, she started feeling different as she came to realise the magic of letters. After spending eight months in such class she now can read and write. 

Days of Rajiya, mother of four children, were spent in collecting fodder and firewood, looking after her home and taking care of her kids. But after taking the adult education classes, she is aware of the importance of education and healthy practice in life. Now she is all committed to fighting against child marriage which is mostly prevalent in the Madhes community. 

She said she would never speak about the early marriage about her children, and discourage others from doing so as well. She would do her best to help their children pursue higher education. 

Sabina Khatun, 13, of the same locality has now felt that she has found the path that could lead her life to change. 

The adolescent girl education classes operated in the district with the financial assistance from the World Education Nepal and UNESCO technical support have had a great impact on her life. She said she is aware of the importance of education and aspired to get higher education in the future. 

It was the same class that finally led Gajala Prabina of the same locality to the local Rastriya Secondary School. She has been admitted to the grade 2. 

Education Ministry's director Mitragan Chaulagain who arrived here Tuesday to see the impact of such classes said the government would do its best to educate people from people from poor and remote community like Samsi. 

World Education curriculum expert Mohan Bhurtel such classes operated at 13 places of the districts have so far been beneficial for 1,340 adolescent girls and young mothers. 

Adolescent girls' and women's education district coordinator Rakesh Prasad Chaudhary said there are 815 mothers in mother's education classes being implemented simultaneously at 28 places of the district parts while 304 young girls have been enrolled in the class 2 to 6 in the local school.