In recent decades, there have been a positive progress in solving gender inequalities in education. The education sector has achieved significant improvements in reducing the gender inequality gap. Despite all the efforts, girls still experience severe disadvantages as they are mishandled and excluded in most education systems. For instance, in 2013, it was estimated that 31 million girls of primary school age and 32 million of lower secondary school age were not attending schools (UNICEF). The most affected region is the sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. In these regions, only 20% of girls are assured of attending schools compared to 84% of boys (UNICEF). It’s high time for the society to ensure that the girls access education without any form of discrimination.
It is obvious that gender parity has enhanced, but girls’ education faces numerous barriers. For example, there is a high level of discrimination at the secondary school level as girls are mostly marginalized in the society. The girl child education is affected since most parents treat the boy as the most exceptional child. In some regions, parents prefer paying schools for boys rather than girls. Moreover, the strong cultural norms automatically favor the boys’ education, especially when the resources are scarce.
It is also sad to note that some schools have failed to end gender discrimination. In some areas, school principals have failed to establish measures to introduce adequate sanitation facilities to both genders. Girl’s feels insecure when facilities like latrines are not private and separate to those of boys. Besides, girls continue to face violence as they are bullied by boys, and teachers are reluctant to take effective measures to solve the issue. Some male teachers have also been engaged in exploiting the girl child as they harass them to unimaginable extents. Cases of sexual harassment are left unsolved, and this exposes girls in danger of rape and mistreatment. Institutions of learning must also ensure that more female teachers are employed and this will improvise the fight against gender discrimination.
The majority of stakeholders in education believes that men are more intelligent than women. As a result, men are perceived to be smarter and are encouraged to major with mathematics and science subjects (Lizj). Such stereotypes should not affect education, but they still exist in our societies. Both boys and girls should be given equal chances to pursue what they like and the teachers should avoid favoring boys over girls in the classroom.
The remaining incidences of gender inequalities in education have a negative impact on the society. If access to education becomes an intrinsic right to all individuals, both sexes will be equally empowered. The high levels of poverty remain unsolved in most communities because they deny women a chance to get education and acquire a well-paying job. Also, girls who fail to attend school engage in early and forced marriages, and this continues to affect the society well-being. Uneducated females lack knowledge in reproduction and have a high probability of experiencing stillbirths since they are not enlightened. A society that ensures education is a fundamental right and accessible to every person believes in human rights and gender equality. Gender equality in education is an essential element in any society that has an objective of empowering its members. Therefore, it is necessary to come up with practical measures that will do away with barriers to education at all levels.
Works Cited
Lizj. "Gender Inequalities in the Classroom | Serendip Studio." Serendip Studio's One World. N.p., 29 Sept. 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
UNICEF. "Girls' Education and Gender Equality | Education | UNICEF." UNICEF | Childrenâs Rights & Emergency Relief Organization. N.p., 23 July 2015. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
