Educate a Girl, Educate a Nation - Sierra Leone

Aminata is the Program Coordinator at Develop Africa Sierra Leone (DASL).  She shared her rationale below as to why girls need more educational support than boys based on her studies at Fourah Bay College. 

In today's world, education is widely recognized as a fundamental human right and a key driver of social and economic development. However, despite significant progress in increasing educational access globally, disparities between genders persist especially in some villages in my country Sierra Leone. Girls, in particular, often face a whole of challenges that discourage their ability to receive the same quality of education as boys. These challenges range from cultural and social barriers to economic constraints, safety concerns, and psychological pressures. As a result of this, girls frequently require more targeted educational support to overcome these obstacles and achieve their full potential which sometimes may seem impossible. Understanding and addressing these challenges is essential to pushing forward an equitable and more inclusive educational environment where all students, regardless of gender be it girl or boy, can strive for excellence. In this article, I will be exploring five reasons why girls need more educational support than boys and the strategies that can help bridge or cub this gap. Note that I am not dismissing the fact that boys also face challenges when it comes to accessing education. These reasons and suggestions will be based on what I have learned as a gender student from Fourah Bay College.

 Reasons Why Girls Need More Educational Support Than Boys and Suggestions

 Cultural and Social Barriers:

In many parts of the world, cultural norms and societal expectations place girls at a disadvantage when it comes to education. For instance in Sierra Leone, it was seen as a waste to educate a girl child; it is only more recently that girls are being included. Traditional gender roles often prioritize boys' education over girls, they expect girls to focus on domestic duties or to marry early which is what the girl would have been taught from an early stage. These cultural biases can limit girls' access to educational resources and opportunities, why because parents may pay more attention to the boys attending school than that of the girls. So my suggestion is to eradicate these cultural and social barriers and encourage a more inclusive educational system.

Economic Constraints or Problems:

Economic challenges can also affect girls' education. Let's take families with limited financial resources for instance, boys' education is often prioritized because boys are seen as future breadwinners which is why all the effort to educate that boy would have been made. As a result, girls may be forced to drop out of school to help with household chores or to work and support their families including the boy child further his education. Suggestions will be Financial aid, scholarships, and community programs that are targeting girls can help mitigate these economic barriers or constraints.

Psychological and Emotional Support:

Girls are often faced with psychological and emotional challenges, including low self-esteem and societal pressures regarding body image and behavior. These are challenges that have led to most girls not being educated. So counseling services and programs that promote self-confidence and mental health can be of great help to navigate these challenges and improve their academic performance and overall well-being.

Encouragement to be in STEM Fields:

There is a significant gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Stereotypes and biases have often been the reason for discouragement for girls from pursuing these subjects. So providing encouragement, resources, and opportunities for girls in STEM can help break down these barriers and promote gender equality in these critical areas. Let's note that what a man can do a woman can do better so let's not just be one-sided.

Addressing Bias in the Educational Domain:

Teachers and educational materials sometimes unconsciously perpetuate gender biases that favor boys and not girls. These biases can affect how girls are treated in the classroom and their academic performance. For instance, there are some subjects that only boys are advised to pursue and girls are limited to the ones that have to do with home management. Even when it comes to school attire, many school uniforms have gender-specific dress codes that often require girls to wear skirts or dresses. This can be uncomfortable and impractical, especially in colder weather or during physical activities. These dress codes should rewind our memories back to those traditional gender roles and how they limit girls' freedom of movement and expression. Training educators to recognize these biases can create a more equitable learning environment for girls.

I will conclude by saying that I'm not against boys' education and that they also are faced with a lot of educational challenges but the greater percentage goes to the girls. These barriers that girls encounter should focus on helping to target support in ensuring that both boys and girls have equal opportunities to succeed in the future. By addressing cultural, economic, and psychological issues, and promoting gender equality in education, we can create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for girls. By understanding and addressing these reasons, parents, educators, policymakers, and communities can better support girls in their educational journeys, helping to close the gender gap and promote equality and empowerment for future generations.

We want to express our gratitude for your support, which helps provide girls with the resources to overcome these gender-biased obstacles. Your generosity plays a vital role in girls' education.

If you have any questions, please email us at GlobalGiving@developafrica.org.

With warmest regards,

Amy and the Develop Africa Team

Links:

• Educate Girls to become Empowered Women
• Develop Africa- Empowering Girls webpage