Education for ALL: Promote girls’ primary and secondary education and women’s literacy

By: Maria Theresa Maan Bešić

NDF Uganda, April 2010



SEENAH UAE, VISIT

 "Short-changing girls is not only a matter of gender discrimination; it is bad economics and bad social policy. Experience has shown, over and over again, that investments in girls’ education translate directly and quickly into better nutrition for the whole family, better health care, declining fertility, poverty reduction and better overall economic performance."

The Millennium Report 2008

The Government of Uganda estimates that approximately 10 million young people receive AIDS education in the nation’s classrooms, many of whom entered school for the first time when fees were eliminated in the 1990s. In one school district more than 60 per cent of students aged 13 to 16 had reported that they were sexually active in 1994. By 2001, that figure was reduced to fewer than 5%.

There are several factors, which limit the participation of girls in Education. These factors include the low priority given to girls in education by segments of society, the demand of girl child Labour, early marriages and pregnancies, broken homes and families disrupted by premature death of one or both parents, especially because of HIV/AIDS pandemic and armed conflict.

All this is compounded by the pervasive poverty in Uganda where the majority of the people are categorized as living below poverty line. Uganda’s Human Development Indices (HDI) are amongst the lowest in the world. Poverty at household level is the main cause of girl child dropout even under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Policy of the government of Uganda which provides free primary education to all. It is due to this background that Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF) complement  the efforts of the Government, by catering for the scholastic material needs of girls.

Her Royal Highness, The Nnabagereka (Queen) of Buganda, Sylvia  Nagginda Luswata, is supporting many girls from ten primary schools in seven districts of Uganda to make education available to the least advantaged children through a scholarship scheme. She stresses quality education that would be accessible to all children and which is relevant to the needs of our society. NDF special emphasis on the girl child as witnessed through her work as a “Good Will Ambassador” for UNFPA advocating for girl child education; and her involvement with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) an organization whose goal is to accelerate female participation in Education and bridge the gender gap within the education system at all levels.  

The Nnabagereka is very cautious about the cultural values that make a good mother or woman in Buganda, but stresses that these should be handled in such a way that girls are not denied any opportunity in education. She has addressed people in various fora policy makers, community leaders, school heads, youth groups, cultural leaders and opinion leaders on protecting and empowering the girl child.

There are 100 girls from very-poor families and include HIV/AIDS orphans and children with special disabilities and physically handicap are being supported with scholastic materials. NDF secured bursaries from some of the top schools in Uganda including Green Hill Academy, Uganda Martyrs Namugongo and Seeta High School.  Currently, the programme was expanded to cover the full tuition for the entire period of the student’s secondary studies.

Encouraging girls to remain in school until they complete primary education has increasingly become a priority of national and international communities. Research has constantly shown the economic and social benefits of girl child education. With the increase in the education participation of girls, the main national development indicators improve.

Some important ones are, lowered infant mortality rate longer life expectancy, improvement in health and nutrition, literacy an economic growth. In addition there are advantages passed on by educated women to their families in better health, nutrition and higher incomes plus increased educational attainment of the younger generations. Countries with the highest education participation of women evidence the highest levels of economic growth.

NDF intervene to address the problem due to increasing numbers of families in poverty line in Uganda. Most households cannot afford to cover the basic expenses for essential needs of their children who are very essential keeping these children in school. The costs that might deter poorer children are well known and they include the following: School fees, clothing uniforms, shoes and textbooks.

These are multiplied by the several children in a family and considered in the light of an annual per capita income of Ugandan people, the problem is obvious, some of these expenses increase the burden on these families with low incomes to consider seriously whether they can afford to continue sending children to school especially if they are not doing well academically or if girls do not want the education. Furthermore in households that are financially constrained boys are favoured over girls which setting is brought about by the stereotyping habit of different communities.

The basic schooling requirements cannot be one hundred percent subsidized under Universal primary Education (UPE).  For example text books, other scholastic materials, extra-tuition needs and meals at school.

Second, due to poverty some household cannot afford to cover these expenses. Discrimination is even greater against children with disabilities when it comes to decisions as to who should go to school. Positive change in the status of girl child and the education of girls seems to lie strongly in reaching out through awareness creation, lobbying and advocacy.

Girls who continue with their primary education are less likely jump to early marriage, that result to pregnancy were related mortality and mobility problems associated with early pregnancies. Educated girls have their self-esteem and confidences built and are therefore less likely to be taken advantage of in life. As mothers they contribute to the increased welfare of their families because of exposure that education provides.

Furthermore, NDF will continue and promote the general welfare of young people and support them to attend school. Disadvantaged children, especially young girls, are a priority to NDF because the education of girls is crucial to the development of a woman’s role in society. Positive socialization of girls at a young age represents the key to change, instilling positive values, confidence and self-esteem through activities in the community and at home.