Recent case of student highlights ‘inequalities’

A RECENT case where a student fell pregnant, gave birth and was not allowed to resume classes while the boy who impregnated her continued schooling, highlights the inequalities that still exist in Fiji.

This is the claim by Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali, as she stressed that while women have made a lot of inroads in terms of gender equality and human rights, “a lot more still needs to be done”.

Speaking during the International Women’s Day event at The Fiji Times yesterday, she said inequalities existed in communities they visited where girls have been arbitrarily denied the right to education.

“We are dealing with one this moment, a young woman who got pregnant at high school,” Ms Ali said.

“She was told that after giving birth she could return to school, and the guy who impregnated her has returned to school.

“The school principal then told her she could not return to school because of what people will say, that she will set a bad example to everybody — but the girl is desperate to complete her education.

“We have gone to the Education Department, we did everything, but the school principal is not shifting, so we are going to go higher now to ensure this girl gets an education.”

Ms Ali said women were often judged by their personal activities while men are not dealt with in the same manner.

“So this is the kind of inequality that still exists and the patriarchal attitude that drives inequality and the male privileges that come with patriarchy.”

She said close to 40 years she had been championing women’s rights and had witnessed the gains that had been made in education and male-dominated professions such as engineering and aviation.

“But the question is — have the inequalities gone?

“No they haven’t. Many women are doing very well professionally and academically, but the inequalities still exist.”

In response, Education Ministry acting permanent secretary Timoci Bure said they had assisted students in such situation whenever it was brought to their attention.

“Likewise, the heads of schools that we had discussed such cases with have been very accommodative having to visit these students to do lessons at their homes.”