ABOVE: Transgender students in Pakistan. Photo via Twitter/@DrMuradPTI.
MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) | Pakistan opened its first government-run school for students who are transgender July 8 in the central city of Multan, a provincial education minister said, promising to set up more such schools in the future.
The school, established by the educational department in Punjab province, where Multan is located, opened its doors on the first day of school with 18 students enrolled.
“We have provided them everything that is required” for their schooling, tweeted Murad Rass, Punjab’s education minister. He added hopes that the school will help transgender youth get better job opportunities later on in life.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
First Day of School for Transgenders by School Education Department Punjab. We have provided them everything that is required for Schooling. Dr Aithesham Secretary School South Punjab and his team have done a great job. TransEducation is the program. pic.twitter.com/pTZkfKEOYX— Murad Raas (@MuradRaasMR) July 8, 2021
More trans students were still expected to enroll in time at the school in Multan, where classes are offered from grade 1-12. Human rights activists welcomed the school’s opening.
Trans people face discrimination worldwide and especially in conservative areas of Pakistan.
“We are grateful to the government for opening this school and for providing free education to our community,“ said Ayesha Mughal, a transgender individual who for years has campaigned for the rights of their community.
In Pakistan, trans people are also often forced into begging, dancing and even prostitution to earn money. However, that started to change in 2019, when the country’s Supreme Court designated transgender people as a third gender.
