Africa-Press – Kenya. Education Cabinet Administrative Secretary Sarah Ruto has called for deliberate research into where girls and young women end up in their pursuit of Education.
Dr Ruto said that girls and young women often start off at the same level as boys in school but fewer end up finishing their education and pursuing careers.
“Just go and take a look at students pursuing law at the University of Nairobi for example. Girls are even more than boys in that class at the beginning,” she said.
After law school, she said, fewer girls transition to the Kenya School Law and get admitted to the bar to specialise in various fields.
“What happens in between?” she asked.
The CAS was speaking at the launch of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE-Kenya)’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2026 in Nairobi on Tuesday.
She said that data and empirical evidence on what girls experience that makes them not further their education or careers is vital to ending inequality against them.
Dr Ruto asked that FAWE take up the task of looking for empirical evidence into what happens after school and the effects it has on gender equality.
“Typically, the nature of the girl is that as she leaves professional school, maybe she decides to choose a life of marriage and become a wife.”
“Perhaps they discuss and decide amongst themselves that for the sake of the new family, she should stay home and allow the husband to pursue his Education, Career, move to a new town,” she said.
She said for many women, that is what they feel is best for their family and family is the backbone of society.
She also said that women should never feel bad for choosing the family route because raising a family is as great as building a career.
“That is why girls need to be supported because they serve so many purposes to society,” she said.
She commended FAWE’s plan for the future and their commitment to advancing the Education of girls in various circumstances, especially getting girls to school after they have given birth.
“We are happy to see civil society groups like FAWE join in the conversations of re-entry into school and we hope they can help identify areas where we can make the policy work for girls and boys returning to school,” she concluded.
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