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of the African Virtual University-Indiana University of Pennsylvania Partnership.

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Government and NGOs working hard to improve girls' education in The Gambia

Gambia

Mama Janneh  The Gambia

Government and women’s organizations are  working on programs to  improve women’s education in The Gambia. According to  national statistics, of the overall enrolment of 57 percent,  women’s enrolment is 4.6 percent.

A number of reasons have  been cited for  this imbalance in  women’s education. They include costs, distance and gender biases.

Educational officials say female enrolment at the junior secondary level is 37 percent. There appears to be a preference for  Madrasa education, particularly among girls, because of moral and religious education it offers.

Officials say girls’ enrolment is constrained by, among other things, the cost of travelling great distances from home to school.

Another constraint is non broad -based curriculum that creates gender biases in teaching/learning materials. Stereotyping and other socio cultural deterrents both at home and in the school have also adversely impacted on female enrolment.

A number of  initiatives have been put in place to help  increase and improve  girls are educated at all levels.  One of them is  a project  establish by the president for free education for girls.   

As a result of these initiatives, officials say awareness is being created slowly and parents are taking interest in the education of the girls.

The Forum for African Women Educationists in The Gambia helps girls and women in education. 

FAWEGAM helps girls with school materials; put up science clinics for girls, provide scholarships for needy students and form mothers clubs all geared towards the development and empowerment of girls and women.

 An official of FAWEGAM said: “We also have the national women’s policy. One of its goals is to reduce illiteracy among women by 40 percent by 2007.

“This could be done if the education department increases literacy programmes for women, improves girls and women’s access to functional literacy, vocational education and training.

“Women and girls should therefore, with these opportunities be able to empower themselves. They will then work towards national development.”

The official added: “Development involves growth from a particular stage to a more advanced stage. Such a process requires individuals groups, communities and even as a country has the ability to bring about change for the better and this is call empowerment.”

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