- Educational institutes to enrol transgender students without discrimination to achieve 100 per cent retention targets
ISLAMABAD: A special notification has been issued to educational institutes in Punjab by the Education Department in relation to the enrolment of transgender students “on an equal basis”.
The letter by the educational department provided instructions to the school administrations for dealing with transgender children in order to “recognise/protect the rights of transgender children in Pakistan under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 (Act No. XIII of 2018)”.
The letter dated August 8 further stated that “the [transgender students] must be treated on an equal basis and in the column of gender, their real status (transgender) may be mentioned at the time of admission.”
Furthermore, it directed the institutes that during annual enrolment and retention campaign, “equal importance may be given for boys, girls, and transgender in order to achieve 100 per cent enrolment and retention targets”.
The letter, addressed to education authorities in the province, is to be implemented in all government and private education institutes in Punjab as “top priority”.
Earlier, the National Assembly passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018, aimed at ensuring the rights of transgender persons, on May 8.
The bill, which had already been passed by the Senate, was moved by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Syed Naveed Qamar.
The bill allows transgender persons to obtain a driving license and passport. They have the option to get their gender changed in the National Database and Registration Authority’s record as well.
Furthermore, harassment of transgender persons has been prohibited in and outside their homes. An important part of the law was that they would not be discriminated against by educational institutions, employers, in trade and health services, and when using public transport and buying or selling or renting property.
The bill had also instructed that the government establishes a safe house for transgender persons and provide them with medical, educational facilities and psychological counselling.
In addition to all the basic rights, the bill had stated that anyone found guilty of forcing a transgender person to beg would be sentenced to six months in prison and served a fine of Rs50,000.
Initially, the bill faced objections from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Naeema Kishwer for containing clauses that she claimed were “un-Islamic”. However, the claims were negated by the members of civil society and legislators working on the bill.
With the arguments presented by the aforementioned, the Senate and the CII were convinced that the bill is fully compatible with the principles of Islam and the Constitution of Pakistan.
Having said that, the Pakistani legislation as always been considered ‘progressive; when it came to protecting the rights of the Transgender community in Pakistan, however, it was never really incorporated as a ‘law’ nor was it implemented in any way to protect the rights of the community.
