Cecilia Awiah, Binduri District Manager for Afrikids Ghana, a children’s rights organization, expressed the ongoing challenge of convincing parents that educating girls is just as important as educating boys.
She voiced concerns that many parents believe girl child education is less beneficial compared to that of boys.
Ms. Awiah highlighted instances where parents have expressed doubts about the value of educating girls, fearing that they might drop out of school due to pregnancy or other issues, which they perceive as a waste of time and resources.
“Parents tend to focus more on the negative aspects of educating girls rather than the positives, leading them to favor boys over girls. However, we believe that girls can succeed,” she stated.
She also pointed out that girls often bear a heavier burden of household chores, which leaves them tired and less able to perform academically. This situation, she explained, arises from societal and parental attitudes that assign chores based on gender. Ms. Awiah urged that both boys and girls should share household responsibilities equally.
“If everyone contributes to reducing the workload, we can achieve better outcomes. We need to continue sensitizing parents to share chores equally among all children,” she emphasized. “The burden on girls is simply too much,” she added.
Furthermore, Ms. Awiah stressed the importance of encouraging boys to be more supportive. She noted that some parents and teachers in certain communities believe that advocating for girl child education might discourage boys, potentially impacting their academic performance. She highlighted the role boys play in the lives of girls, whether positively or negatively.
“We’ve focused more on girls than boys, but we should involve boys as well. Some boys willingly support girls, and sharing chores equally can address many issues, including those related to pregnancy,” she said.
Ms. Awiah concluded by urging that boys should be involved and made to understand the challenges girls face. “If we have caring brothers who stay close and support us, it will help us overcome obstacles and achieve success. It’s only fair to distribute workloads equally between girls and boys,” she added.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
