Malala Yousafzai's mother learning to read and write

Tor Pekai Yousafzai, the mother of girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai, has started to read and write, and speaks a bit of English.

According to the New York Times, Malala Yousafzai said that her mother goes to school since she wanted to learn and receive education.

The 17 year old Pakistani campaigner's father thought Pekai Yousafzai remained illiterate even after her daughter became a crusader for girls' education.

Pekai Yousafzai is now learning English and becoming independent as she goes to shops and markets on her own, said Malala.

She also said that her father was now helping in house hold chores and how this reveals to the world that women and men should not be restricted to conventional gender roles.