In
many African countries, girls tend to drop out of school much earlier than
boys. The result: Gender parity is lacking and women struggle to find formal
employment.
For instance in Zambia, most girls never reach the 7th
grade — considered the threshold for primary education — and barely 5 out of
every 100 make it all the way to 12th grade. But the country is slowly turning
a corner, says Sergio Ramirez Mena, who currently serves as Chemonics’
chief of party for STEP-Up Zambia —
or the Zambia Strengthening Educational Performance Up program — which assists
the Zambian Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early
Education with education management reforms to improve learner performance.
During a video interview with Devex Editor
Rolf Rosenkranz, Ramirez Mena pointed out how local school
governments and student councils, in particular, are excellent opportunities
for girls to realize their leadership potential in countries like Zambia.
Click on the above video for more insights from the
international education expert on the future of education and some of the lessons
he’s learned while working across Africa and Latin America over the past 20-odd
years.
No comments:
Post a Comment