Pakistani university offers free education for transgender community | Arab News - World

"A leading university in Pakistan is offering free education for the transgender community, in a bid to promote inclusion and opportunity for the marginalized group" continues Arab News.

Photo: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU)

“Our university education system is based on distance learning, so they can get the education without coming to classrooms, and avoid possible taboos attached to them,” Dr. Shahid Siddiqui, vice chancellor of the Islamabad-based Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), told Arab News.
 
Through this free education program, the AIOU will try to “return their self-respect and dignity.”
 
The Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI), a Pakistani NGO working for the rights of gender and sexual minorities, lauded the decision.
 
“This is a positive, welcome and much-needed step by the AIOU,” Uzma Yaqoob, founder and executive director of FDI, told Arab News, adding that the transgender community was never given such an opportunity before in Pakistan.
 
“The transgender community has a great desire to acquire and complete their education. I’m sure they’ll make use of this offer.”
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Source: Arab News