Female Participation in Paktia Teacher training college of Afghanistan : Obstacles for female participation

The Government of Afghanistan is struggling to provide education facilities all over the country for both boys and girls. Many problems exist in girls’ access to education and girls generally participate less than boys. Gender disparity exists in rural as well as in urban areas of Afghanistan. The girls are expected to stay at home instead of taking part in education. The issue of girls’ non participation in education may have different reasons for example social, cultural, religious, and traditional origins. This study explores the views of female participants, their parents and the teachers about girls’ participation in Paktia TTC. 16 teachers, 38 students and 25 parents were interviewed through separate questionnaires about the obstacles for female participation in Paktia TTC as well as about the influence of GSP (Girls scholarship program) on female participation. This study is conducted in central TTC of Paktia province. In the result of this study it is found that among all the obstacles for girls’ security is a basic problem for girls to continue with their education. As well the study found that more than half of the teachers and girls interviewed mentioned distance between residence and TTC is also a big problem for girls to participate in TTC. Another finding of this study is that among all the personal involved in the study most parents which is about more than half of the parents told that the social pressure for girls is the basic problem as well as the traditions of the society have also affected the girls’ participation in Paktia TTC. More than half of the parents were also agreed that parents’ illiteracy is a big problem in girls’ participation because illiterate parents do not want their daughters to get education. As the purpose of this study is also to know about the influence of GSP (Girls’ scholarship program) on female participation. This grant motivate female participants to attend TTC but the study found that more than half of the teachers told that if there was no GSP the girls will continue but 25 parents most parents were agreed that the GSP grant is a contribution to their families. As well as 25% teachers told that the GSP grant has encouraged girls to attend TTC in Paktia province