Sindh Govt approves Pakistan’s first Transgender Education Policy

KARACHI: Sindh’s Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah chaired a meeting that approved the draft of Pakistan’s first-ever “Transgender Education Policy”, here on Wednesday.

The policy aims to address the educational needs of transgender individuals by introducing a transgender category on school and college admission forms alongside male and female options. It also includes quotas for transgender individuals in teacher recruitment.

The policy draft, developed with input from transgender advocates, focuses on creating safe educational environments, providing skill development programs and promoting anti-harassment measures in schools and training centres. It also proposes training for teachers to raise awareness of transgender students’ unique challenges.

Minister Shah highlighted that transgender individuals face significant barriers to education, including social discrimination, limited job opportunities and a lack of supportive curricula. He emphasized that the policy would help transgender people access education and dignified employment, while also raising public awareness about their rights. Following cabinet approval, an awareness campaign will be launched across various media platforms.

According the 2023 census, there are 20, 331 transgender individuals in Pakistan with 4, 222 in Sindh.