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Millennium Development Goal a far reach in Luapula
Early marriages continue to be a barrier against development in Luapula Province, as girls from as low as grade 5 and grade 6 are married of by their families.
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Photo by Lena Vind-Andersen
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17. May 2010
The Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) that Zambia has embraced as a target of development calls for elimination of gender disparity in primary and in basic education by the year 2015. But a study carried out by Civil Society for Poverty Reduction in Luapula Province shows a large drop out of girls from grade 5 and upwards, caused by the early marriages and unwanted pregnancies.
In a typical rural school, the ratio of boys to girls shows a weak majority of girls up to grade 5; 51 % girls and 49 % boys. But for grade 6-7, the girls fall out and the ratio changes to 55% boys and 45 % girls. In grade 8-9 the problem gets worse, as the ratio falls to 41% girls and 59 % boys.
Traditional values and taboos surrounding education on reproductive health prevent effective measures against the girls drop-out. The resulting lack of knowledge on birth control leads to too many unwanted early pregnancies. These factors are unlikely to change in the few years before 2015.
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Photo by Lena Vind-Andersen
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Chairperson of CSPR in Luapula Father E. Tembo comments: “The Millennium Development Goals are a milestone in the development of our country. We must do all we can to reach them. There is a need for female role models, to show people how well-educated women contribute to the wealth of their families and to the progress of Zambia.”
Other interventions that can help Zambia attain the MDG on Gender Equality are: Free education up to grade nine, to prevent that families remove their girls from education after grade seven; better education on reproductive health and better access to birth control methods in the rural areas. Also there is need for increased sensitisation among chiefs, headmen and families about the disadvantages of early marriages and to ensure that basic education is provided to all children.
