This study examines how educational levels, comparing highly educated and less educated women, influence awareness of Clause 18 of the Nikkahnama, which grants Muslim women in Pakistan the delegated right to divorce under the Muslim Family Law Ordinance. Despite this provision aimed at safeguarding women’s rights, widespread unawareness of Clause 18 perpetuates gender inequality. Using semi-structured interviews with nine women from both educational levels and employing grounded theory and qualitative thematic analysis, a lack of awareness among most participants was identified, the one highly- educated aware participant was prevented from exercising this right due to prevailing societal norms.

The findings, framed within the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) framework, reveal a critical gap between theoretical education and its practical application, which inhibits legal empowerment. The findings further indicated that educational programs prioritize theoretical knowledge, often disconnected from the practical skills necessary for navigating real-life situations. This disconnect is compounded by the persistent neglect of legal education and the absence of gender discourse within the curriculum, limiting students’ awareness of essential legal and social frameworks.

The study underscores the need for educational reform to integrate legal and gender awareness for fostering equality and changing social norms.