High dropout rate among girls sparks concern in Oyam district

6 November 2024, 2:49 pm

By Woo Christ

The dropout rate among girls in Oyam district stands at 64%, according to Victoria Harriet Anyango, a Programs Manager at the Foundation for Inclusive Community Help (FICH). This was revealed during a joint community dialogue held at Lela Market in Loro subcounty, aimed at addressing challenges in the education sector. The theme of the event, “Where is my child headed to?” focused on defining and holding stakeholders accountable for their roles in education.

Anyango shared findings from a quarterly survey conducted in March, which shows that 64% of girls, particularly those in primary five, six and seven, have dropped out of school. In comparison, the dropout rate among boys stands at only 36%. This disparity highlights a trend where parents prioritise boys’ education over girls’, often intending to marry off their daughters.

“Parents often provide reasons such as illness, caring for siblings, or helping with domestic work as excuses for their daughters’ absence from school. However, visits to these households reveal that many of these girls are pregnant or already married, indicating that parents are aware of their responsibilities yet fail to act accordingly,” Anyango stated. She noted that societal beliefs that boys are less vulnerable to “spoiling” lead to greater investment in their education compared to girls.

This program is part of a larger community education forum that FICH regularly holds in eleven villages. Anyango expressed hope that the insights gathered would contribute to a policy brief for district stakeholders and Members of Parliament to address these educational challenges in Loro and Iceme subcounties.

Daniel Okello, the LC5 Councilor of Oyam town council, who represented the LC5 Chairperson of Oyam district at the event, commended FICH’s efforts. He pledged district support for community partners working to combat this issue.

Benson Ongom, the District Inspector of Schools for Oyam district, encouraged stakeholders to contribute resources to improve education standards, urging lawmakers to implement by-laws to reduce dropout rates.

Conny Atoo, the female LC5 Councilor for Oyam town council, emphasised the need for better transportation resources for inspection teams, enabling them to reach remote schools. She called on the government to focus on policy implementation.

Hanna Agang, the female LC5 Councilor representing persons with disabilities, urged development partners to hire sign language interpreters to ensure fair treatment for those with hearing impairments.

Night Akello, a resident of Lela Village in Loro subcounty, suggested that the lack of girls’ changing rooms contributes to the high dropout rate. She appealed to the government and stakeholders to establish changing facilities, especially to support girls during menstruation.

According to a report from the education department, over 9,000 pupils drop out of school annually in Oyam district.