INSIDER ISSUE
ENDING CHALLENGES IN GIRLS ’ EDUCATION
Gadri Pericles
“ If you educate a man , you educate an individual but if you educate a woman , you educate a whole nation ,” says the Ghanaian scholar Dr . Kwegyir Aggrey . This statement still holds true to this day . The same way , I believe my commitments and efforts to fight until all our girls and women receive if not the best at least a larger extent of education rather than hawking the streets . My name is Gadri Pericles , a young leader and a strong advocate for girls ’ education . I am currently enrolled at African Leadership Academy 2017 in South Africa . I will discuss some of the numerous practical challenges thwarting the education of girls in many parts of the world , especially the sub- Saharan Region of Africa where I come from and suggest some practical solutions to remedy the situation .
Many great women have accomplished many great things on earth . They are seen as role models , mothers and great leaders who have redefined society . Prominent among them are Queen Elizabeth of England , Chief Justice Georgina Wood of the Republic of Ghana , and Mrs . Theodosia Okoh , a developer of the Flag of Ghana . All of these great women share a common characteristic and it is none other than the education they received as girls . This then depicts the wisdom in educating the girls of our society .
Educating girls by my own definition is to equip them with the requisite skills , knowledge and understanding that will enable them to not only help themselves but also their families , societies and countries . Education is the key to unlocking the great potential locked within young women . It can guide them to develop to their full potential and as well put them on the path of success in life .
Dr . Aggrey said that one educated woman will yield to generations of educated children especially girls which will eventually create a society of creative thinkers and innovators to actually propel nations for greater developments .
Educated women are healthy and as adults they have healthier children as they are more likely to immunize them against childhood diseases . Women who are educated are less likely to be poor . This is because they earn a living from their professional jobs or their own enterprises established from their own creative initiatives . As women become educated , they aspire to become leaders and thus expand the country ’ s leadership and entrepreneurial talents . This boosts the economic growth of the country . It is clear that educating women has numerous and important benefits to the individual and society at large .
Education is a right but it is still beyond the reach of many young people most especially young girls . According to the Millennium Development Goals ( MDG ), children are supposed to have access to education irrespective of the challenges thwarting their education . But what do we see today ? There are over 55 countries in Africa which still record high cases of girls ’ illiteracy . This has been a complete failure on everyone ’ s part to get as many girls as boys in school . This is because a child without education is more likely to be a girl than a boy . So I ask , what are the causes of the failures or challenges ? Who is causing them ? What must be done ?
Admittedly , girls ’ education has been a challenge and countries should make efforts to salvage the situation . On July 2009 , the President of Nigeria , President
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