The inspiring story of Malala Yousafzai, 17, is now an encouraging lesson for children in some 1,000 private schools in the country. Fifth standard students will learn from a chapter in their English textbook how Malala, shot in the head by the Taliban for her advocacy of education of girls in the Swat Valley of Pakistan, had a miraculous recovery and went on to address the United Nations in 2013, becoming a global icon for the cause of education.
iDiscoveri Education Pvt Ltd., which supplies textbooks to private schools, has included the life of Malala in its XSEED series book. Turn to Page 100 to the six-page chapter, Malala Yousafzai: standing up for education , with her photograph from the cover of TIME .
“Malala’s courage won her many friends, but she also made enemies. On October 9, 2012, she was shot while going to school and suffered serious injuries. By then, Malala had many supporters, and she was moved to England and given very good medical treatment. The whole world watched closely as she recovered. Malala was now even more determined to continue her fight for girls’ education. She said that the attack had only made here stronger. She was back — with strength, power and courage,” it says.
The lesson dwells on the early life of Malala in the Swat Valley, where the Taliban reportedly blew up scores of schools and discouraged girls from getting educated. Malala starts a campaign at the age of 11 for the rights of women, particularly girls. The lesson describes in detail the threats she received from militants for speaking up for girls’ education.
The photographs include those of her school days, recognition by the then Pakistan Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, treatment in a hospital in England and the U.N. speech.
The lesson ends by saying that Malala means grief-stricken, but to millions around the world, Malala Yousafzai is a symbol of joy and hope.
