Girl Education – Page 4 – Centre for Family Health Initiative

SPEAK WEDNESDAY – PERIOD POVERTY AND POOR EDUCATION

Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Health, Menstrual Health and Hygiene, Reproductive Health, Sanitation, Speak Wednesday, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

The backdrop in girls’ education due to lack of menstrual hygiene in Nigeria should no longer be gender issue, but of national concern.

The National Democracy and Health Survey in 2013 has shown that girls make up 60 per cent of the 110.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, and 1 in 10 African girls misses school due to their period, according to UNICEF. In order words, they could miss school for four days or more during which the period lasts, and since they cannot manage their period safely without a good sanitary product, such children are most likely to drop out of school in the long run. Moreso, the hike in menstrual products has left most Nigerian girls and young women with no choice but to use unclean napkins, tissue, leaves, newspapers, or nothing at all, during their menstruation.

The old African proverb says “educate a girl, educate a nation”. To curb this damaging menace caused by period poverty, the Nigerian government should borrow a Leaf from Kenya’s policy which introduced the right to free, sufficient and quality sanitary towels, and basic sanitation facilities for schoolgirls; treating access to sanitary pads as a basic human right. This and the total removal of tax on menstrual products will help to make the girl child stay in school during their monthly flow.

Like Michelle Obama rightly said, when girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous. It is time to embrace this fact and work towards creating a world where everyone irrespective of gender can thrive without limitations.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

#SpeakWednesday #MenstrualRightsAwareness #MenstrualHygiene #MenstrualEquality #GirlsInSchool #EquityAndJustice #MHDay2022 #WeAreCommitted
#reusablesanitarypad

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Girl Education, Speak Wednesday, Women Education / cfhinitiative

THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) ON GIRL EDUCATION

The pandemic is having a tremendous effect on learning in communities where education is already not a priority, specifically girls’ education. By March 2020, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported nearly 3 million students across the world had their education disrupted due to COVID-19 after just 13 countries ordered schools’ closure. By April 2020, 194 countries instituted countrywide schools’ closure, and this affected 91% of enrolled learners, which totals to 1.6 billion children worldwide.

Many girls especially the vulnerable ones in remote communities are the most affected, unfortunately. Even with the reopening of schools in some countries of the world, the state of girls’ education is a far cry from what it used to be before the pandemic. With families dealing with incomparable levels of stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of intra-family conflict and gender-based violence increases, negatively impacting girls’ self-confidence, well-being, and ability to effectively navigate key life decisions.

It is girls’ education that produces great gains in areas of health, infant mortality and the economic well-being of families and the society at large. However, these girls are the first to be pulled out of school, put to work and care for younger siblings when families face economic hardship. Loss of household income has also led to child marriage to generate income for the family.

According to research, with the emergence of Covid-19, girls spend more time with men and boys compared to when they are in school, which can lead to involvement in risky sexual behavior and increased risk of sexual violence and exploitation. In due course, this can lead to an increase in teenage pregnancies which plays a huge factor in girls not returning to school.

Finally, girls sometimes become primary caregivers for sick members of the families and for younger siblings pulling them away from school and sometimes permanently in cases where girls become the household breadwinners.

With all these factors, COVID-19 could result in severe outcomes and disproportionate effects in girls’ education, but this can be forestalled if government and non-governmental agencies are able to include gender in school reopening plans and ensure girls still have the means to continue learning while at home. For countries who have lifted the lockdown on schools, it is important that plans are in place to follow up and reengage schoolgirls who do not return to school.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more interesting episodes.

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