How education for
women would enhance socio-economic development? Why this issue needs to be
considered and address urgently? What are the strategies? The gender equality
can only do the justice to these questions. That is why “Gender Equity” is adopted
as one of the goals of the United Nations Millennium Development. It is without
a doubt to end world poverty by 2015.
My literature reviews
on this subject indicate that a male from female is distinguished in relation to
their existing nature of the world. It is always found and recognized that the
weaker ones are looser. The critics and analyst also validate what determined
who is weaker, how it has occurred and what solution are there to bring them in
the equal footing. My sensitivity and approach to this gender equality
promotion is provision of equal educational opportunities.
Dr. A.Agarwal expresses his strong view to maintain education
for women. He says “education enlightens and an enlightened woman only can
stand up for protection of her human rights and for those of her fellow sisters
who may be being deprived and discriminated against due to various religious
and socio-economic factors. By educating girl child we set in a process of
empowering women, who will be able not only to defend their rights and live
with dignity but also to contribute to the development of entire society.” To add, Swami
Vivekananda summarizes his vision for the magnitude of educating girl child. “I
ask you all so earnestly to open girl’s schools in every village and try to
uplift them. If the conditions of women are raised, then their children will,
by their noble actions, glorify the name of the country”
In sum, it is
understood that today’s girl child will be the mother of tomorrow. When girl
child is given right education, then as a mother she can give her child a sound
nursing and capable upbringing. As an educated mother of two children, I have
experienced and observed that we women can generate maximum impact on the
social, economical decision making in the family. At micro level, we the educated
woman can help in making the whole family including the older family members
understand the values and importance of education, and at macro level, educated
women add to the socio-economic development of the nation. Girl education, hence,
is like sowing the seed which gives rise to green, cheerful and full grown
family plant.
Let us compare and
contrast the girl child education in the developing countries like ours and
what needs to be addressed it in the light of gender equality. The literacy
rate of women is very low as compared to men. The overall average is 50% in the
developing countries. This clearly indicates how women could develop when they
don’t have opportunity for basic education. This low percentage of literacy
rate is responsible and restricting factor of religion practices, promoting culture,
improving social and economic development. We can also relate this to the poor
quality of education that girl gets and the content of the education they
receive. The amount and quality of education is found different from countries
to countries. In Africa only 77% of girls are enrolled against 97% boys in the
primary level and secondary level have only 22% girls received compared to 36%
of boys. Similarly in Asia, only one-third girls received the education. It is
found that girls who receive little or no education suffer more in facing the
modern world.
On the other hand,
the lack of resources in developing countries is the main obstacle for
educating girl child. In the last decade, economic deterioration throughout the
developing countries has led to cut in public expenditure in school education.
School fees, cost of stationeries is ever increasing and parents have to make a
choice to send their sons to schools and compel their girl child to dropout.
For instance, in rural areas of our country, during the cultivation, parents
need helping hand and normally take the girl child out of school instead of
boy. This phenomenon is a social attitude of the society. Early marriage is
another social factor preventing a girl child to finish her education.
In order to change
this social attitudes and help complete girl child education, Royal Government
of Bhutan has placed importance on promotion of gender equity and adopted a
policy of education for all by 2013. We can also find in our
country that the female literacy is equally emphasized with the male literacy.
We have record of low population growth and high standards of living. It is a
positive indication of gender equality and equal educational opportunities.
I would
like to say that a woman influences the activities and decisions of family than
anyone else. The educated girl can shoulder any kind of responsibility. See for
example Margaret Thatcher, Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Aum Sangay Zam and Aum
Neten Zangmo who had earned the name and fame in their country and world wide and, who are
inspiration to all the Bhutanese women. For the success of a person whether man
or woman, education plays an important role. Education for the girls is more
important as she not only builds the home but all routine responsibilities are
taken care of by her. An educated woman not only helps in nourishing the family
in a better way but can also help in earning. She is the most crucial and reverend entity. She must be given all the
necessary education, ignoring her, keeping her illiterate means creating an
illiterate and ignorant generation. Development cannot be accelerated unless
girls are given right education in right direction.
And as a teacher my only wish is to see
every Bhutanese child going to the school inclusive of the girl child so that we
can rest assured of our future. J
Reference:
Levy, Marian Fennelly. (1981)
Bringing women into community development process. Save the Children. US.
Omvedt, Gail. (1986). Women in
Popular Movement, India and Thailand. United Nation Research Institution for Social Development. New York.
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