Many girls remain out of school
Sunday, 21 September 2008
It is surprising that about 1.5 million primary-age girls still remain out of school in the country. According to a Unicef data, the situation is worse in urban slums, areas where enrollment rate is only 61 per cent, 23 per cent lower than the national average. Of greater concern for us is that 26 per cent primary-age girls never enrolled in schools in urban slums.
This is appalling despite the fact that there is no gender disparity in primary school enrollment. The number of girl students is, in fact, higher than boys at this level. But do we take into account that enrollment of girls at the secondary level is still lower from Grade six. According to Unicef statistics, only 50 per cent of children, who enrolled in Grade 6, reach Grade 10. And only 40 per cent of girls pass the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations.
The year 2015 is very close to us. We have to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Education for all, including girls, is one of the 16 MDGs we have to achieve in seven years. Despite programmes taken over the decades to remove the curse of illiteracy and bring cent per cent enrollment of all children, it is unfortunate that many girls still remain out of schools.
Momtaz Begum
Mirpur, Dhaka
This is appalling despite the fact that there is no gender disparity in primary school enrollment. The number of girl students is, in fact, higher than boys at this level. But do we take into account that enrollment of girls at the secondary level is still lower from Grade six. According to Unicef statistics, only 50 per cent of children, who enrolled in Grade 6, reach Grade 10. And only 40 per cent of girls pass the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations.
The year 2015 is very close to us. We have to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Education for all, including girls, is one of the 16 MDGs we have to achieve in seven years. Despite programmes taken over the decades to remove the curse of illiteracy and bring cent per cent enrollment of all children, it is unfortunate that many girls still remain out of schools.
Momtaz Begum
Mirpur, Dhaka