Quality Education

The literacy rate of the Muslim community is 43.56%, which is lower than the national literacy rate of 65.9%. Literacy among Muslim women is even lower, at 33.98%. The Muslim community, with male-dominated socio-cultural norms, is still hesitant to send their daughters to schools and colleges with co-education. Most Muslim parents send their children to madrasas for education. Madrasas follow their own curriculum, and the education they provide is not in sync with mainstream education. Madrasas are funded by donations and Zakat from the Muslim community. Most madrasas lack proper infrastructure and facilities. The academic certificates from Madrasa are not recognized by the government. As per the 2014 Human Development Index report by UNDP, Muslims in Nepal have the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0.422, compared to Brahmans/Chhetris who rank at the top with an HDI value of 0.538, followed by Janjatis at 0.482 and Dalits at 0.434. The low HDI of Muslims is also reflective of their low educational attainment, which hinders their representation and participation and perpetuates their exclusion.

Education is a fundamental human right. It is essential for the exercise of all other human rights. An investment in education is an investment in human capital formation. NMWWS is aligned and committed to Sustainable Development Goal# 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

To achieve SDD#4, NMWWS advocates for mainstreaming and improving the quality of madrasa education in Nepal. We work for equal access to affordable and quality primary, secondary, and university education, including technical and vocational skills for marginalized girls. We work to enhance the capacity of teachers, parents, children, and communities for their effective engagement in improving the quality of education. By increasing community-level awareness and scholarship support programs, NMWWS focuses on increasing school enrollment and access to quality education for girls.

In 2015, we launched a pivotal project aimed at addressing child and early marriage within marginalized Muslim communities. This initiative focused on increasing awareness and action to prevent these practices, ensuring the protection of young girls’ rights and promoting gender equality. Here’s a detailed look at the project’s key activities and achievements:

Objective: To prevent child and early marriage and protect the rights of marginalized Muslim girls by raising awareness, empowering women, and engaging community and religious leaders.

Key Activities and Achievements:

  1. Raising Awareness and Advocacy

  2. Capacity Building of women’s groups were trained on women’s rights, gender equality, and leadership skills. 

  3. Engaging Community and Religious Leaders to address child marriage as a human rights violation.

  4. Community-Level Awareness Campaigns about the harmful effects of child marriage and other discriminatory practices. 

Impact:

  • The training and awareness initiatives resulted in a stronger advocacy network capable of addressing child marriage and promoting gender equality within the community.
  • The involvement of community and religious leaders helped to shift attitudes and generate support for preventing child marriage, leading to a more informed and proactive community.
  • Women’s groups became effective advocates for girls’ rights, working to prevent child marriages and support affected families.

By focusing on education, advocacy, and community engagement, the project made significant strides in preventing child and early marriage and protecting the rights of marginalized Muslim girls. Our ongoing commitment to these issues continues to drive positive change and foster a more equitable society for all.