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Influence of Malala’s Story on Education
Introduction
In every part of the world, there is a demand for change. The change can only be achieved through good education. In recent years, most governments have recognized the value of education, and they are investing a huge amount of money in educating children to make them competitive in workplaces around the world. Middle-income countries in Asia and Africa spend a larger part of their budget in the education sector. Employers in the 21st century are looking for the most educated and intelligent workers to make their companies successful. Technology has been the breakthrough to growth and development, therefore, fulfilling the needs of the people. More than 57 million children worldwide do not attend school, and one in every five adults has no basic writing or communication skills. In Africa and Asian countries, there are millions of children attending school, but learning is not effective because of political instability, terrorism, and poverty. The world has the challenge of providing access to education and ensuring that there is progress being made. Therefore, people should rise and advocate for better education by eliminating people the importance and the need for education. In “I am Malala,” Malala Yousafzai advocated for girl’s education against the Taliban by amplifying the voice of women in fighting for the right to education.
“I am Malala” is a story of Malala Yousafzai, born and raised in Mingora, Pakistan, in 1997. Getting a girl in Pakistan was not valued by men, but her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, had a good heart and saw every reason to celebrate. Her mother was an illiterate village woman who had no opportunity to get an education. Ziauddin Yousafzai was a teacher in Pakistan, where he ran a girl’s school. He was a man that loved education and believed education was more vital than power and sword. Ziauddin started a girl’s school in the village to help girls acquire knowledge through education to realize their potential (Yousafzai & Lamb 25). The Taliban did not support the education of girl children and occasionally raided girls’ schools. In 2008, life for Malala took a different turn when the Taliban took control of Swat Valley town where they lived. The fanatics banned owning some items like radios and television and gave harsh punishment to the rebellious people. The Taliban killed law enforcers in the town, held their head beside the road, and closed all schoolgirls in the Swat Valley. Many schools were bombed, and children were killed through the directions of Fazlulla, who was acting as the Taliban representative and commands (Afzal 102). They continued to impose harsh rules where they killed a teacher for failing to honor the orders to pull his trousers above the ankle, as was the dressing code for the Taliban. In 2008, Malala left school at 11 years, not knowing what the future holds for her.
In 2012, Malala spoke publicly on the right of girls to education on behalf of other girls. That made him a target by the Taliban. On her way home from school, a gunman with a masked face boarded the same vehicle that Malala was in and asked for her identity. Malala was shot on her left side of the head. She became unconscious and woke up ten days later in Birmingham hospital in England. She was informed by the nurses and Doctors about the attack that had happened, giving her hope through prayers around the world. Because of that incident, a group of Muslim leaders issued a legal pronouncement against the Taliban. It was a shock to Malala, wondering how it was very easy for people to acquire guns but very hard to educate the girl child. Malala was a determined girl; after months of rehabilitation and surgeries, she joined her parents and continued her fight to ensure that every girl goes to school. In 2014, Malala and her father established a charity fund [Malala Fund] to allow girls to achieve their dream. In the same year, she received the Nobel Peace Prize to fight for girls’ education. The influence of Malala’s story on education is remarkable, and so much has been achieved for girl children around the globe.
Children can now complete a full course of primary education. Malala, with the help of the UN special envoy for education and Gordon Brown, launched a petition calling on the United Nations to recommit itself to the fulfillment of Millenium Development Goal 2. The petition was supported by more than 3 million signatures that led to the United Nations recommitting to boys and girls’ targets everywhere in the world (Peters, 96).
All children in Pakistan have a right to free education. Following Malala’s petition to the United Nations, Pakistan’s government made education to all children free. The right to education Bill in Pakistan was passed in 2012, giving all children below 16 and above 5years of free education. Employers who hire children and parents refusing to take children to school face imprisonment as required by the Bill.
Global education leaders can now hear the voice of young people. During her 16th birthday, Malala organized the first of its kind UN take over. The takeover was attended by more than 600 youths around the world, which gave young leaders a voice among the global education leaders. The young leaders were supporting universal education for children of both genders. In 2013, Malala gave a moving speech at the United Nations, taking the world by a storm. Many determined and courageous young ladies worldwide are using the words of Malala to fight for empowerment and the right to education. The goal of Malala is to ensure girls get 12 years of safe, free, and quality education. She continues to travel in many countries worldwide to meet girls fighting a war, gender discrimination, poverty, and child marriages.
Conclusion
The role that Malala has played in the education sector has impacted many lives today and in the future. Her courage and determination should serve as an example to other young women who fear to speak out and condemn injustice and gender discrimination. Many countries now educate girls who were not allowed to access education. The world is changing, creating a new environment with a new demand. Through the Malala fund, many girls have been taken to schools to shape their future. Also, there has been construction for schools and training of teachers. The government of Pakistan started the fight against discrimination based on gender by providing free education.
Work Cited
Afzal, Madiha. Pakistan Under Siege: Extremism, Society, and the State. Brookings Institution Press, 2018.
Peters Elisa. Malala Yousafzai: Pakistani Activist for Female Education. The Rosen Publishing, Inc, 2017.
Yousafzai, Malala. & Lamb, Christina. I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. Little, Brown and Company 2013.