Female Education Challenges

Literacy is regarded as one of the integral parts of modern cultural, technological, and socioeconomic transformations. Gender inequality remains a significant part of an ongoing educational crisis.

Conservative people argue that girls’ schooling is unnecessary, but their opinions support old religious doctrines and lack any factual evidence. Developing countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda start to realize the importance of educating girls, which leads to improved global statistics. Despite all the positive changes for girls worldwide, safe access to educational opportunities should remain a priority globally as women continue to study and contribute to the cultural, social, and economic development of their countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of girls out of school each year has risen from 20 million in 1990 to 24 million in 2002 (Offorma 2009).

Rural areas struggle as there is a prominent distinction between rural and urban areas in terms of access to high-quality education. According to the United Nations’ data, only 39 percent of rural girls attend secondary school, which is almost half the percentage of urban boys. Rural girls are also twice more likely to drop out of school than urban girls, which shows that more progress needs to be made (United Nations). Deficits in education can have long-term implications for girls as they become mothers and raise their own children. New generations depend on educated, intelligent women, which is why girls’ schooling is immensely important.

According to the World Health organization, gender-based violence (primarily violence against women and girls) in countries such as Papua New Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania is associated with low-income communities and weak legal sanctions for sexual abuse. Parents often oppose their daughters taking such risks, which is why officials need to open more local schools and educate parents on the possible safety precautions.

Antagonists of female education base their opinions off of religious texts and conservative doctrines that try to justify female social inferiority. The issue of restricted educational attainment based on gender is gradually improving, but there are still antagonists of secular schooling (Pew Research Center). The gender gaps in educational attainment remain prevalent within major world religions, particularly Islam and Hinduism (Pew Research Center). A lot of households still discriminate against female education as the majority of their beliefs originate from their faith. However, it is crucial to understand that the contents of Qur’an, for instance, have been interpreted in various different ways due to the history of long-held cultural discrimination that justified women’s inferiority (McDonnel). Conservative mullahs, for example, often offer different interpretations of Qur’an to put men in the positions of power by enforcing the idea that women have no need in education as they are on maintenance of their husbands (McDonnel). Therefore, some devout Muslims might think females pursuing a career or an education is insulting to their husbands as it symbolizes potential independence. In fact, Muhammad’s revelations state that women and men are created equal and do not place women in unfavorable positions (McDonnel). The twenty-first century requires religious authorities to become a bit more progressive when it comes to strict gender-based laws on physical mobility and educational access that limit the girls’ right to study.

Women can potentially impact the economy in a positive way since education remains an essential factor in the socioeconomic growth of any nation. Educated women are more likely to lead productive lives and escape poverty by obtaining higher positions, especially in the educational sector (United Nations). Studies show that “female labor force participation rate and female primary school enrollment are significant factors for annual per capita income growth” (Oztunc et al, p. 349). National economies depend on educated populations that can aid in the development of new technologies and businesses.

Female education results in immensely important social changes, including decreased child mortality rates, better parenting, and cultural harmony. It is crucial to consider the linkage between education and mortality rates. According to the data gathered by the United Nations, children of uneducated mothers are almost three times more likely to die than the kids with mothers who have at least secondary education. Mortality rates are in direct proportion to future mother’s enrollment in schools (United Nations). Thus, female education becomes an important factor in determining whether the child survives or not.

As women become more educated, they start to make rational and informed choices that affect the quality of their lives as well as the lives of their children and families. Personal development is dependent on education, as studies demonstrate the positive impact of schooling (Oztunc et al, p. 354). Educated women are more open-minded and tolerant, which leads to beneficial social changes, including cultural harmony (Somani 125). Women deserve an opportunity to think independently and have access to education that enables them to improve their societies.

Education has immense value and influence over women worldwide and global societies at large. As the antagonists of female education continue to justify women’s lack of rights, feminists are still fighting to ensure girls can reach their full potential at school. Female contribution to the cultural, economic, and social transformations taking place in their countries makes the benefits stand out. It is crucial to listen to the antagonist and their concerns to make schools safe and adaptable for all the girls living in high-risk communities. However, cultural and religious traditions need to be taken into consideration as authorities develop new innovative frameworks to encourage parents to educate their daughters. Education is a gateway for most girls to open up their minds to the world of opportunities and success.

Works Cited

McDonnel, Jaclynn(2017). Islam and Educational Equality for Muslim Women.. Seton Hall U, Law school student scholarship.

Offorma, G. C., & Ofoefuna, M. O. (2009). Fundamentals of Curriculum Innovation and Evaluation. Enugu, Nigeria: Ofona Publishers Ltd.

Oztunc, Hakan, et al.(2015) “Effects of Female Education on Economic Growth: A Cross Country Empirical Study.” Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, vol. 15, no. 2, 2015, pp. 349-357. doi: 10.12738/estp.2015.2.2351.

Pew Research Center. (2016)“How Religion May Affect Educational Attainment: Scholarly Theories and Historical Background.” PewForum.org.

Somani, Tabreek. (2017) “Importance of Educating Girls for the Overall Development of Society: A Global Perspective.” Journal of Educational Research and Practice, vol. 7, no. 1, 2017, pp. 125-139. doi: 10.5590/JERAP.2017.07.1.10.

United Nations.(2015)  “The World’s Women 2015: Education.” unstats.un.org.

United Nations Children’s Fund. “Girls’ Education: A Lifeline to Development.” Unicef.org, Web.

The World Bank Group. “The Education Crisis: Being in School Is Not the Same as Learning.” WorldBank, 2019.

World Health Organization.(2017) “Violence against Women.” WHO.