02.25.07
What prevents girls from attending school?
What prevents girls from attending school?
http://www.netaid.org/global_poverty/girls-education/
There are many factors that keep children out of school, but girls in particular face significant barriers. School fees and the related cost of books or uniforms prevent many poor families from sending any children to school. When money is scarce, parents tend to place greater value on educating their sons, who are assumed to be the future breadwinners of the family.
Poverty isn’t the only obstacle that closes off education to girls – many schools are not sensitive to gender issues. A scarcity of female teachers, lack of bathroom facilities and tolerance of sexual harassment in schools make many parents reluctant to send their daughters to school. Concerns about safety also keep girls at home, especially in rural areas, where they may have to walk up to 10 miles just to reach their classrooms. In regions with political instability, it can be especially unsafe for children to walk to school alone.
