Liberia Reviews Girl Child Education Policy
Monrovia, Liberia, 08/24 -
Liberia`s ministry of education on Monday began reviewing a draft policy
document on the education of girls in the country, a programme having the
backing of UNCEF."
Liberia, in response to the call to implement
Education for All (EFA) goals, has developed the National Action Plan, that
includes early childhood education and development of free and compulsory
primary education promoting gender equality," the policy document says.
At the opening of the forum, Education Minister Evelyn Kandakai
underscored the importance of education for the girl child and thanked UNICEF
and other international partners for their support to rebuild the country`s
educational sector shattered by many years of brutal civil war.
The last
census conducted in Liberia in 1984 showed that over half of the nation`s
population were either girls or women, who "perform about 80 percent of all
productive activities in rural agriculture and other sectors".
But they
have not been given the basic equal rights and opportunities in human resource
and educational development, thereby making them the most vulnerable group of
learners," the document points out.According to education authorities, over the
years Liberia`s educational system has been dominated by male enrolment, mainly
in the secondary and tertiary institutions due to socio-economic reasons.
The serious decline in girls enrolment in Liberian schools was
exacerbated by poverty and 14 years of armed conflict during which "girls
grossly suffered the impact disproportionately," a study showed. The head of
UNICEF Liberia office, Angela Kearney told the opening of the forum that she was
optimistic that it will produce a realistic policy document that would enhance
education of girls.
Kearney said this is a human rights and development
issue."I would like to reiterate UNICEF`s vision that the education of girl
children is cardinal to peace and development in Liberia," Kearney added.
No comments:
Post a Comment