Pakistan’s first public school for transgender persons opens doors in Lodhran

LODHRAN: As many as 20 transgender persons are getting education from an educational institution established by the government-run Literacy department in Lodhran district.

District Officer Literacy department Shazia Noreen supervises the institution. The Lodhran Deputy Commissioner said that it was first initiative for the education of transgender persons.

He said the purpose of establishing an educational institution was to provide education to transgender community to enable them to play their role in the national development.

Babra, head of of the local transgender community thanked the Punjab government for establishing the educational institution.

In a bid to promote inclusiveness last year, the School Education Department (SED) in Punjab directed district education authorities to ensure transgender children are treated as equals in both government and private schools across the province.

In a notification issued on August 9, 2018, to the DEA CEOs of all 36 districts, the SED enforced recognition and protection of the rights of transgender children under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 (Act No. XIII of 2018). Urging the CEOs to act as per law, the notification stressed upon fair and equal treatment for transgender children.

Furthermore, officials have been instructed to include the gender in admission forms. “In the column of gender, their real status (i.e. transgender) may be mentioned at the time of admission,” it read.

The notification asserted equal opportunity during annual enrollment and retention campaign “in order to achieve 100 per cent enrollment and retention targets.”

Source: The Express Tribune