Crossing Boundaries Gender, Caste and Schooling in Rural Pakistan

Abstract

An examination of the social barriers such as female seclusion and caste stigma present within rural Pakistan and designing policies that can reduce inequalities.

The paper explores the social barriers faced by school age children in rural Pakistan namely female seclusion due to cultural and religious beliefs and caste affiliation. Regression analysis is applied on data generated from Pakistan Rural Household Survey (PRHS-II 2004-2005) and school census undertaken in villages of Sind and Punjab. The study reveals that establishment of school within the settlement boundary positively impacts enrollment rate for high caste girls whereas low caste girls appear to be indifferent to the existence of a school within settlement boundaries. Existence of a caste concordant school within settlement boundaries positively impacts the school enrollment rate for low caste boys and low caste girls and this indicates that caste based stigma is an important barrier towards education of poor. In light of the results, the authors suggest that a school must be established in every low class settlement area that is currently deprived of this basic facility. Analysis reveals that such a policy would double the aggregate enrollment rates at one-sixth of the cost as opposed to a policy of providing a girl’s school in every settlement that is presently lacking one. Supply side interventions can successfully reduce the social stigma of caste and create equalities in the provision of education amongst the masses.

Publishing Year: 2011

Attached File:

WPS5710.pdf - Download