Drive to educate girls

KENYA’S ministry of education and partners on Tuesday launched an initiative to boost school enrolment among girls in marginalised counties who bear the brunt of illiteracy linked to poverty and harmful cultural practices.

Amina Mohamed, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Education, said the five-year “Leave No Girl Child Behind” initiative aims to achieve gender parity in school enrolment in remote parts of the country.

“The Kenyan government recognises that education for girls is not an option; it is a strategic development priority and we have put in place an appropriate legislative and policy framework to ensure no girl misses out on education,” said Mohamed.

She said the initiative that aims to benefit 342000 girls will be a gamechanger in the quest to achieve the sustainable development goal on gender parity in education.

Kenya is among sub-Saharan African countries that have made progress in girl child school enrolment through the enactment of affirmative action policies and robust campaigns targeting marginalised communities.

Mohamed noted that introduction of free primary education coupled with other incentives like free meals and sanitary pads has boosted school enrolment among girls in remote counties.

She said that the enactment of laws that criminalise harmful cultural practices like early marriage and female genital mutilation that are rampant in marginalised regions, has ensured that more girls attain basic education. | African News Agency (ANA)