What is her Future?

A recent survey (April 2011) conducted by the government of Uganda, on the situation analysis of the Gender and equity responsiveness of pre- primary, primary and secondary school levels of the Uganda Education sector, show that girls have continued to be disadvantaged compared to boys in all aspects of education access, participation and performance at both primary and secondary school levels except at pre-primary level where there is gender equality in access. The causes of inequality have not changed according to the last two surveys of 2005 and 2009. The main causes are still related to costs, early marriages, pregnancy and the perception that children are too young to attend school. (Parents consider their children too young at five years though the official age is 3-5 years for pre-primary)Indeed in most primary schools in the rural communities, by primary six, the dropout ratio of girls to boys is quite high as girls opt or are forced into early marriages. As a result more boys access and participate in secondary education as the number of girls keeps dropping, the higher the levels. The Education sector is one of the most critical sectors for reducing gender inequality as it addresses the strategic needs of both men and women. Strategic interventions have to be defined at all levels, if this gender disparity is to be nipped in the bud.