Girl-Child Education

Ghana: Make girl child education priority for gender parity – Parents urged

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Ghana/Source: https://www.myjoyonline.com

Parents have been urged to place more value on girl child education to help the country achieve gender equality.

According to the Director of Programmes and Projects of civil society organization, Youth Without Borders (YWB), Richard Appau, society also needs to do more to give females the right environment to flourish.

“Women must be empowered and inspired to take the necessary steps in the socio-economic development of their children,” he said.

He was speaking at the maiden edition of the Mafi Zongo Electoral Area Women Rising Summit in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.

The event was on the theme: ‘The Role of the 21st Century Women in the Growth and Development of Society.’

The programme brought together over 500 women, chiefs and elders in the district for mentoring.

The summit sought to connect the women to carefully selected mentors from academia and industry to empower and inspire them to take the necessary steps to properly develop their children.

Assembly Member of the Mafi Zongo Electoral Area Julius Karl D. Fieve encouraged mothers to invest more in their children to ensure their adequate development.

He said, “I have come to realize that, beyond infrastructure and social amenities, the only way, we could transform our communities and create a sustainable future for ourselves is through strategic investment in the education of the children of our communities.”

A lecturer at the Ho Technical University, Edem Nerissa Lawrencia Anku, admonished the women to have a vision for their children and play their part in the growth of society.

“You must endeavour to provide all the needs of your children. You have to draw more closely to them so as to be able to understand them,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the women who participated in the event, Jane Duhoe said they would take the experiences shared by the mentors very serious.

She said, “we were really inspired today for action. We can assure the mentors and organizers of our resolve to push for the development of our children.”

 

Source:

https://www.myjoyonline.com/lifestyle/2018/March-29th/refrain-from-using-cane-to-discipline-children-medical-doctor-advises-parent.php

 

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Uganda: Magufuli Stance a Setback On Girl-Child Education

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Uganda/July 11, 2017/By Jennifer Brenda Asiimwe/Source: http://allafrica.com

I am one of the African women deeply disappointed by the utterances made by Tanzania president John Pombe Magufuli that teenage mothers impregnated while still in school should not be allowed back to their studies.

Magufuli reasons that these girls may affect their colleagues if allowed to associate with them again.In a short time, Magufuli has gained popularity in East Africa and Africa in general as a result of the many positive things he has done and implemented, including the policy on free education.

When the famous president now comes up and thinks otherwise, it is a shock, a serious human rights violation and a setback to what many governments and organizations promoting girl child education and women empowerment have worked for in a long time.

One of the things that have caused early pregnancies among girl children is poverty. Many teenage girls coming from poor backgrounds get easily lured by men who come in their lives promising heaven and earth. As much as the president may be looking out for the interests of the rest of the girls not yet affected, I think stopping teenage girls from achieving their dreams after going through the unwanted pregnancy is double punishment.

Just last year, my neighbour’s daughter (in Ntungamo) who had been under the care of her paternal aunt in Ibanda district went through the same experience at 14 years old. She was ready to sit for her primary seven exams.

However, her dreams were cut short when a 35-year-old man got her pregnant. She could not go back to her aunt’s home or come back to her parents’ home for fear of the repercussions, including torture and discrimination. She, therefore, decided to stay with the man.

I remember cutting my Christmas break short after deciding that her uncle and I travel to Ibanda, investigate and report the matter to police!

While in Ibanda, this is what we discovered: That the aunt with whom the girl had been staying had not reported the matter to police for fear for her life and family as the man is said to be dangerous.

The community was aware of what the man had been doing to people’s children but was silent. From the local police station in Ibanda, we proceeded to another local police station on Entebbe road where the culprit works, according to the local sources. We reported the matter but, up to now, the case has not been taken to court.

In order to fight poverty in our continent, education remains paramount – more so the education of the girl child. Let us imagine the future of my neighbour’s daughter is at stake!

Pregnant at 14 years, she is now staying with the 35-year-old illiterate man, whose health status is not known and cannot even guarantee that he will stay and take care of her and the baby before he moves on another young girl. Does this young girl even know the values of marriage?

Does she understand what it means to be a mother? All she will be is a helpless woman with broken dreams and aspirations. Her parents cannot help much either, because they are also illiterate and only work for daily bread.

This girl was the hope of the family; probably after completing her education, she would have contributed to her siblings’ school fees. Unfortunately this is going to be the vicious cycle of poverty Uganda and Africa are facing.

We need to come up with lasting solutions that will not affect young girls’ education. Mr Magufuli and his government plus many other governments need to devise policies and strategies to address poverty and other social challenges which affect girl-child education in Africa.

It starts with family: parents ought to engage in serious talks with their children on matters of sex and its consequences. Make children your friends so that in times of confusion, they can feel free to share with you but also count on you for protection.

The law should provide severe punishments for defilers. Any person who collaborates with the culprits should face heavy punishment once found guilty.

Local leaders need to be pragmatic in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the people in their communities, but should also share responsibility for any crimes committed against young girls. Civil society organisations working on girl empowerment issues should put in more effort in raising awareness.

In conclusion, teenage girls’ rights need to be protected and, therefore, we need combined efforts from all leaders. Alienating them is not a solution at all!

The author works with Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (Acode).

Source:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201707100250.html

 

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Ghana: Girls’ Education Network Launched

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Ghana/13 june 2017/By: PRESS RELEASE/Source: http://allafrica.com

The renowned Ghanaian educationist, Dr. KwegyirAggrey once famously said «if you educate a male you educate an individual but if you educate a female you educate a nation.» This quote demonstrates the importance and the benefits to the society of female or girl-child education.

To give meaning to the above quote and to ensure that issues around female education are given priority attention, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) through Camfed Ghana provided funding for the establishment of a Girls’ Education Network (GEN) which was on May 29, 2017 launched in Koforidua.

Seen as a step towards supporting the Girls’ Education Unit (GEU) to achieve its mandate, the GEU, together with key stakeholders in girls’ education in Ghana, took the initiative to establish the GEN and an Advisory Body. The GEN will be anchored on the Gender in Education Policy (GEP) and is a network of government departments and agencies, civil society organizations, donor partners, education coalitions and other practitioners interested in promoting quality education for girls in Ghana.

The philosophy underpinning the establishment of the GEN is premised on the fact that education, particularly girls’ education, is a fundamental human right and key to breaking the cycle of poverty. It is envisaged that the GEN platform will enable the systematic coordination and monitoring of all current and future efforts for girls’ education in Ghana in order to ensure that they align with the national vision for girls’ education, as well as with the needs of all Ghanaian girls.

The work of the GEN is also intended to contribute towards the achievement of SDGs 4 and 5 and the actualisation of the GEP which aims to promote inclusive and quality education, and to achieve gender equality and empowerment for all girls.The Advisory Body of the GEN will, in an advisory capacity, provide strategic support and push ahead the functioning of the GEN agenda and help the GEU to achieve its mandate.

The Director of Basic Education and Acting Deputy Director-General of GES, Mrs. Cynthia Bosumtwi-Sam, who was the Guest of Honour at the event, expressed gratitude to the participants for their role in supporting girls’ education and urged them to continue to work hard. Mrs. Bosumtwi-Sam affirmed the need for organisations in girls’ education to get registered to allow for effective monitoring and evaluation of their activities in the country.

She charged the participants to propose practical policies and programmes on girls’ education as they strengthen their network with education authorities as to how their policy proposals could be adopted and implemented. She launched the GEN and tasked the members to follow due processes and procedures in all of their consultations and deliberations with the GEU and other stakeholders.

Source:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201706121215.html

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