Professionals from several fields are discussing ways to improve the presence of girls in the schools of Western Bahr el Ghazal through a three-day gender dialogue workshop on community awareness that kicked off yesterday morning in Wau.
The director general for basic education in the state ministry, Mario Alex Alem, told Radio Voice of Hope that the workshop focus on girl child education, which is very low in the state.
He explained that there are very few teachers and female students in the state’s schools.
Mr. Alex called on all Western Bahr el Ghazal residents to join hands and find ways to improve girls’ education.
He added that education is not a one person’s affair but everyone should be involved in the process.
Girl education inspector Helen Henly Ritadawel said the dialogue will help people to remove blocks on girls’ education.
She noted that mothers occupy their daughters with household chores, neglecting their need for formal education.
Mama Helen added that a research conducted a few months ago revealed that girls are mistreated at school, especially in rural areas.
The inspector called on the community to come up with solutions to promote girl child formal education in the state.