It’s always a good idea to circle back to the basics when feeling disillusioned with what we are doing in our lives. So, is true for our work and the changes that we are trying to hopefully effect through it.
When a little girl is stopped from getting an education in one part of the world; another girl elsewhere might feel its effect by remaining home-bound all her life. So, this topic needs recurring visits to ensure that girl child education remains relevant at all policy and implementation decisions.
Education benefits women and girls, and this is a FACT. Many studies and reports have breathlessly argued for sustained education for girls and women. Reliable, data-informed reports have listed the many benefits of education like reduced child and maternal deaths, improved child and mother health, and lower fertility leading to balanced density of citizens- all pointing towards a better quality of life for Indians.
What Does The Data Say?
Women fortunate enough to receive some formal education are more likely to use contraception, marry later, have fewer children, and overall take better decisions regarding their health, and the needs of their families.
However, the potential economic benefits associated with a robust working population are lost when half the population is not educated. They are unable to prove livelihoods for themselves and their families, and this problem plagues our country even today.
Not Just in India
Conflict zones, radical regimes and war-torn countries are the ones which record the lowest number in girl child education. For them, where even one meal have the tendency to break into senseless fights, educating thier girl children is their least priority.
International communities have identified that nine of the top 10 countries which make girl child education difficult and a taboo are in sub-Saharan Africa. The only non-African country in the top 10 list is Afghanistan. Afghanistan with the highest level of gender disparity in primary school is in the top 5. Chad is fifth, followed by Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Ethiopia.
All these are fragile countries have population that are at risk from poverty, ill health and displacement from war and conflict. In these countries, young girls work or do household chores than go to school. In some cases, they are married off young, which ends their chance of any education even at a basic level.
Reasons for School Dropouts: Effects of Lack of Female Education
Even in countries with laws for girl child education, there is a huge number of school dropouts for these common reasons:
- Harmful gender stereotypes and wrongful gender stereotyping
This is a persistent issue that we as a society deal with regularly. The conditioning that “men are providers and women are mothers” is archaic and irrelevant in today’s modern world.
- Child marriage and early and unintended pregnancy
When girl children are taken out of schools and denied education, families tend to marry them off to offset living expenses to raise them. Although laws in India are very strict against child marriage, its prevalent amongst the marginalised and rural communities. They tend to look at girl children as a great burden to bear and passed onto another families.
An early marriage leads to early pregnancies which are several and take a toll on the health of both mother and child. Girls without an education are more likely to become child brides, more vulnerable to infectious diseases like HIV and more likely to die young.
- Gender-based violence against women and girls
Another persistent malaise infecting the country. Constant violent attacks on women and girls have created an unwarranted atmosphere, making parents wary of sending them to school.
- Inadequate and unsafe school infrastructure, including sanitation
This is probably the biggest reason why girl children drop out of school quickly and willingly. Long distances to travel, unhygienic sanitation facilities and a lack of security see a high dropout rate from school.
- Poverty
Taking out nearly 50% of the working population from school and depriving them of education will create a loss of $1,800,000,000,000 – that’s $1.8 TRILLION – in low-income countries alone.
What Concerns us as a Country and Society
Without quality education, the effects of lack of female education can be devastating. If the world neglects girl child education crisis across the globe, we could see these risks become a reality.
As India records the youngest population in the world, all hands on deck will make our dream of being a global economic superpower come true. The image of girls and transgenders leading this dream on an equal footing with boys will make the reality sweeter.
Smile Foundation Addressing and Correcting the Effects of Lack of Female Education
Smile Foundation’s girl child initiative, She Can Fly, is an effort to enable, equip and empower girl children with quality education. It also encompasses proper nutrition, good health, adequate skills, and above all a lot of self-confidence to help them live their lives to their fullest potential.
Would You Like To Help?
Education is the key for a better life, especially for young girls who are often denied the fundamental right of education. By supporting girl child education, you will contribute towards creating a world where every girl has the opportunity to succeed.
Your generous donation can provide essential resources like books, uniforms, and tuition fees, giving these girls the chance to learn, grow, and fulfill their dreams. Your donation here can make a life-changing difference to a girl child.