The Facts: Girls' Education in Guinea
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May 9, 2010
This spring, STS researchers visited our partner schools in Guinea to uncover the reasons why girls struggle to complete their primary school education.
After weeks of interviews, focus groups and observations the researchers found that there are three main reasons.
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Household chores, such as fetching water and firewood, get in the way of students, especially girls, attending school and studying. One girl said that when her mother is not at home she is expected to replace her mom and as a result it does not allow her to study in the evening. Another girl said that her household chores s make her late for school and sometimes prevents her from attending her classes altogether.
Community members have definite perceptions of what a woman’s role is in their society. Some of these perceptions hinder girls’ education. For instance, religious leaders believe that the ideal age for a girl to get married is as early as 14 years old. This barely allows a girl to finish her primary school education.
This summer, STS will begin our Girls’ Education Project by implementing a community sensitization program. It will provide a forum for our program coordinator to address the perceptions held by community members that limit the opportunity of girls to receive an education. Then in the fall, we will begin the two other components of this project – the after school support class for girls and boys and the scholarship program.
We’ll provide regular updates throughout the summer and fall to let you know how this program is progressing. If you would like more information about this program please contact us today.
Families often have limited financial resources to pay school fees and provide the necessary materials for their children to attend school. Parents said that they are often faced with the decision of whether to keep their children in school because of resource constraints. One parent said that he goes into debt to be able to send his children to school. While another said that he had to decide to keep one of his girls out of school this year.
This summer we will begin implementing this program in 15 of our 30 partner schools in Guinea. Please donate today to help us expand to our other partner schools!
