Knowledge is a human’s universal right, and so is access to school. I’m a local Ugandan journalist, Emmanuel Katto widely known as Emmanuel Katto Uganda or Emka Uganda. Since journalism is my passion, I’m always longing for the latest trend and stories regarding Africa and Uganda to justify my passion. There are perhaps problems everywhere in the world regarding certain things like education, food, and many other things. Today I will tell you about the reasons behind what prevents the girls in Uganda from attending schools and its possible measures. To know more please scroll down.
Uganda has effortlessly strides to promote universal access to education over the past decades. The country has also run free primary and secondary education initiatives for the welfare of the students towards access to school, which reduces the cost and pressure on the parents. However, this has not resulted in the way it was expected to be. It only remains largely a privilege for those who can afford it. Girls have been especially disadvantaged by it.
Cultural and traditional factors such as stereotypes of mentality towards girls in considering them as mere brides and reducing their skills development to domestic labor, have limited their school participation.
Over the passing of the year, efforts are made to reduce gender discrimination, but the progress remains slow. One other important factor underlying the topic is the lack of access to menstrual-hygiene tools such as sanitary towels. Girls in such situations, especially those from low-income families, are prevented from routinely attending school.
Early pregnancy is important, too. Approximately one-quarter of young women in Uganda become pregnant before becoming 20 years old, according to the Ministry of Health. Which in a way prevents girls from attending school. Poverty also plays an important role in contributing to females’ unequal access to school. Even though elementary and secondary education is essentially free, many underfunded public schools still find a way to collect money for things besides tuition, such as meals or special activities. Additionally, students are responsible for paying for school materials such as books, pens, and uniform apparel.
Family also tends to prioritize boys over girls as per the tradition and the girls are expected just to get married and take care of household duties.
As 19.8% of young people are unemployed or undereducated, Uganda established a TVET policy in 2019 to solve skill shortages by educating Ugandans in practical skills with the goal of creating job creators rather than job seekers.
In the recent scenario, the government is putting all its efforts into promoting girls’ education in Uganda and is also running heterogeneous initiatives and programs to even encourage parents to send girls to schools.
Emmanuel Katto 