Girls Education

Africa Equipment for Schools

Our programme is gender sensitive and for very good reasons. To really be effective, any education based project in the developing world needs to address girls education. Why ? The improvement in the education of girls is without question the most effective tool in combating poverty, improving literacy, health and safe guarding the environment.

However, across The Great Lakes Region as in much of sub-Saharan Africa, less girls attended primary school regularly than boys, even though the overall number of primary school age girls is greater than boys in virtually every geographical area.

How does our project help to address this imbalance ? Studies conducted by AES between 1999 and 2003 looked at ways of improving the percentage of girls in primary education. The studies included questions for teachers and head teachers. The study also looked for the reason why, on average the percentage of girls decreased further after primary 4 (10 years old).

The studies showed that, two of the most effective ways of increasing the proportion of primary school girls, especially adolescent girls, is through the provision of - Decent toilet facilities and - Hygienic washing amenities. By providing these facilities specifically for girls, means this project includes an effective way of increasing their level of attendance and significantly helps encourage more girls to enrol.

Of the millions of 6-11 year olds not in school, 60% of them are female. These undereducated girls, do not have the same opportunities to improve their own lives, that their educated counter parts have. By missing out on education, they are effectively missing the chance to develop to their full potential. Educated girls are less of a strain on local and government resources, being more independently minded and self-reliant.

Another factor is that the income of families increase if they educate their daughters. A unicef study has shown that an educated women's earnings potential increase by approximately 15% for each additional year of schooling she completes.

An educated girl is also more likely to delay the start of her family. She will be healthier and will raise healthier children. Young mothers under 16 are 5 times more likely to die during childbirth. Teenage mothers also produce more underweight babies than mothers in their twenties. Educated mothers tend to ensure that at least once during their pregnancy, they seek professional medical help, from a doctor, nurse or midwife. This enables both maternal immunisation and child care advice, which leads to a significant decrease in infant and child mortality.

More girls have be encouraged to attend school and to stay on at school longer. We have to ensure that not only are they provided with relevant scholastic materials, but that the school environment is and continues to be sensitive to their needs.