Jamaat MP demands for free education for all boys and girls up to grade X
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If the rights of boys and girls are equal, then why are boys not being given free education? This question was raised in the national parliament by Nurunnisa Siddika, Secretary of the Women's Division of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a member of parliament from the reserved women's seats.
Her statement during Wednesday's parliamentary session has sparked discussions on social media, with many people expressing both support and opposition.
In response, Nurunnisa Siddika posted an explanation of her statement on her Facebook status on Thursday. At the same time, she demanded that free education be introduced for all boys and girls up to class 10 and that educational stipends be introduced for boys as well.
In her status, she wrote: "The five-minute speech I gave in parliament yesterday may be generating a lot of discussion and analysis. But I have been a witness to this reality for the past 16 years."
She wrote: "I run a school for underprivileged children. I have been working to educate women for the past 20 years. I started by educating mothers first, then the children's school. Hundreds of students have passed through this school. Only about 10–12 of them have gone on to appear for the SSC or higher. Most of them, after passing class three, their parents think they no longer need to study. Boys are sent to earn money. And once girls reach class five or six, they are married off. And to whom? To completely illiterate, idle boys."
She further said: "The guardians who come to my school are all from underprivileged backgrounds. There it is seen that the mother has studied up to class four to eight, but the father is illiterate and often cannot even sign his name. A fortunate few women are happy even in the household of an illiterate husband, managing their family through mutual understanding. But most of their husbands have families with another woman as well. Here, the husband only comes to produce children."
"What is the reason for this? If boys, like girls, had access to free education, parents would have made the effort to keep them in school for some time. In the same family, the girl studies for free while the boy is sent to work—because the parents cannot afford the cost of education. Is our society, is our government, just sitting and watching this cruel reality? Everyone is shouting loudly, 'Women's education, women's education.' But if men are not educated, who will value those women? Doesn't this thought ever cross anyone's mind?"
Stating her demand, she said: "Free education should be introduced for all boys and girls up to class 10. Educational stipends should also be introduced for boys, just like for girls."
