" Cecilia, a 17-year-old girl from Tavengerwa village in Gokwe South in Zimbabwe, lived with her father and was in grade 1 when the pandemic broke out. As a result of the economic pressure of COVID, she was married off to an older man, who already has a wife and two children, as his second wife. "
After I read this news, my mind asked few questions like,
- How can you feel when you read this news?
- What does it tell us about the life of girls?
- What is the difference we have made in the last ten centuries?
We will see the facts and data on current girls' education at secondary and primary levels. I got interested to know more about how covid affected women's education rights after hearing the TEDx interview of Malala. It was embarrassing as a man. I do not understand why men have malice on women. I think it is because men always assume that women are sexual objects.
Few research data show the effect of covid on girls' education and rights.
- Before COVID-19, the past 20 years saw the number of girls not enrolled in school drop by 79 million globally. It was a result of decades of efforts to get more girls into the classroom. And also to narrow the gender gap in access to education. But today’s pandemic is putting all of that progress at risk.
- Malala Fund research estimates that as a result of the pandemic. About 20 million girls in developing countries may never return to the classroom.
- UNESCO estimates that 11 million girls may not return to school. Girls aged 12-17 are at particular risk of dropping out of school in low and lower-income countries.
Many NGOs and people are showing their interest in the fight against this inequality. I understood that how developed countries look at this issue after reading the news of CBS.
" Internationally, the G7 communique announced its collective goal of having 40 million more girls in school by 2026 in low and lower-middle-income countries. "
Why Girls' education is so important?
- Female leaders influence the extent of emphasis placed on gender equality in policy and practice.
- If a mother gets an education, it improves child nutrition
- Education increases women’s agency and decision making
- Girls with higher levels of education are less likely to have children at an early age
- Educating girls is a primary factor in hastening the demographic transition to lower birth rates
- Educating women increases economic growth
- Girls with higher levels of education are less likely to get married at an early age
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What are the pressing issues due to the lack of gender equality in education?
Adolescent pregnancy
It is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20. It remains a vital contributor to maternal and child mortality. It is the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 globally.
Child marriage
Child marriage refers to any formal marriage or informal union between a child under 18 and an adult or another child. It is often the result of entrenched gender inequality, making girls disproportionately affected by the practice.
Domestic chores
In digital platform learning, Boys involve in leisure activities while girls do their domestic chores. It includes sweeping the kitchen floor, wiping down the kitchen counters, sanitizing the sinks, and more. It can lead to mental and physical stress in young girls.
Violence
We can see various news about how women are sexually affected in their homes in lockdown. They are legally abused by their partners in the name of love. Men can have sex and go to jobs, but women have to wait at the home until the baby grows.
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