A few weeks ago, I attended the Equity, Diversity, and Belonging (EDB) Annual Lecture hosted by the Department of Education, University of Oxford where the speakers were:

– 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 Pauline Rose, Director of the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at the University of Cambridge.
– 𝗠𝗿 𝗭𝗶𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗳𝘇𝗮𝗶, a renowned Pakistani education advocate and human rights campaigner, co-founded the Malala Fund with his daughter, Malala Yousafzai.

Their discussion underscored the urgent need for equal education for all, especially the most vulnerable children. While challenging, this global goal has fostered partnerships among practitioners, academics, policymakers, and advocates, creating opportunities for collaboration and dialogue.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

𝟭. 𝗠𝗿 𝗭𝗶𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗳𝘇𝗮𝗶  was born in Swat Valley, a region in Pakistan known for its tribal diversity and extreme challenges, He shared his remarkable journey of standing for women’s education. His support for his daughter Malala Yousafzai, who became the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, is a testament to the transformative power of family. His story also highlights how many men in Afghanistan and Pakistan, like himself, champion the rights of their daughters, sisters, and wives despite societal and political pressures. This demonstrates that progress is possible even in regions facing extreme adversity when individuals stand firm for equality and justice. It deeply moved me to hear him talking about fghan women, who endure unimaginable suffering, stripped of their basic rights and opportunities.

I was especially heartened by his kindness in introducing Oxus Academy to the Malala Fund, hoping to explore meaningful collaborations to advance education for all.

𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 leads transformative education projects in developing countries, such as the What Works Hub for Global Education Hub, an international partnership focused on scaling education reforms to improve literacy, numeracy, and other key skills. Current projects are underway in countries like India, Pakistan, Rwanda, and Tanzania, with further work planned in Bangladesh, Ghana and Kenya. While these efforts are commendable, I couldn’t help but reflect on the countries left behind, particularly hashtag#Afghanistan, which has become one of the most challenging places for women to access education. This raises critical questions about global priorities and whether more attention should be directed to regions in greater crisis.

This lecture was a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to ensure education is accessible to all. It also reinforced my belief that the world is better because of individuals like Professor Rose and Mr Yousafzai, whose dedication inspires hope for a brighter future.