Let the African girl child go to school

Despite legislation and policies, the traditional, patriarchal systems across the continent hinder girls’ development

Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

In sub-Saharan Africa, nine million girls aged six to 11 are out of school, compared with six million boys. And girls in conflict-affected areas are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys. This is according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s “Gender parity has not been achieved at any education level in the region, with disparities persisting across primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary levels,” Unesco stated at the conference.

Menstruation is another cause of school absenteeism for adolescent girls in South Africa. Seven million girls are reported absent from school every month because they don’t have sanitary pads, which results in them missing 25% of learning during the school year, noted thethat by 2030, the economic losses to sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP as a result of girls not learning amounts to $210 billion.

Underpinning this complex matrix of obstacles facing an African girl child are traditional, patriarchal systems, which emphasise a girl’s domestic responsibilities over her education, especially in places where resources are limited. The disempowerment of African women, rooted in the dangers and prejudices they face as children, is itself a huge problem. In his Women’s Day speech in the Northern Cape last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the alarming levels of gender-based violence in South Africa, quoting Human Sciences Research Council statistics showing that 7% of women aged 18 and older experience physical or sexual violence annually.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

mailandguardian /  🏆 2. in ZA

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Kampire: The East African DJ spinning a new narrative for African music'Globally successful East African selector Kampire gives us a glimpse into her life, career and her new release
Read more »

Editorial: Let us all heed the AG’s wordsTsakani Maluleke is begging on our behalf, but no one is listening
Read more »

‘If Rassie is best guy for the job, let him coach Boks for next 20 years’Former Springbok legend Naas Botha believes current Bok boss Rassie Erasmus should stay on as head coach for as long as possible.
Read more »

LET’S EAT: Cyril Ramaphosa to host dinner with leaders of GNUPresident Cyril Ramaphosa will host a dinner with all the leaders of parties that are signatory to the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Read more »

Paris 2024 Paralympics opening ceremony: Let the Games begin!Let the Games begin! The Paris 2024 Paralympics were officially declared open on Wednesday night. Take a look ...
Read more »

Rassie defends SA All Black fans: ‘Let them support who they want’ [video]Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has shared his views on South Africans - particularly in Cape Town - who support New Zealand's All Blacks.
Read more »