New Delhi: To mark the second International Day of the Girl Child, UNICEF organized a meeting with top Urdu editors in the capital today. The conference which was supported by Shikhar, highlighted the power of innovation in education. The focus was on the crucial role that media can play to create a sustained discourse and highlight innovations that get more girls to school, keep them in school and improve the quality of learning for all children.
Evidence shows that even a single year of secondary school for a girl correlates with as much as a 25 per cent increase in her future earnings. Despite the decreasing number of girls out of school, many around the world are still denied a quality education and a chance to reach their full potential.
In India, the number of out-of-school children stands at 8.1million, of which 4.5 million are girls. For every 100 boys enrolled 88 girls are enrolled in secondary school. The main causes of school dropout among girls are child marriage and child labour.
“Investing in the education of girls, especially the most marginalised, is needed to make progress on most social indicators in India” said Urmila Sarkar, Chief of Education UNICEF. Giving examples of how communities have arranged for safe school transport for girls in hard-to-reach areas from Udaipur, Rajasthan, she said, “Innovation in girls’ education will be instrumental to female empowerment and breaking the cycle of poverty and deprivation.”
Ms. Sarkar also highlighted the importance of gender sensitisation. Teachers who have undergone gender sensitisation training have made a significant difference for adolescent girls in schools. The participation of Muslim girls has improved in Madrasas of Malda district of West Bengal where adolescent groups have been set up and trained. The girls now take up issues with the Panchayat to ensure entitlements reach the people.
The conference was chaired by top representatives of academia and media, Prof. Mohd Miyan, Vice Chancellor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University and Director General, Doordarshan News, Mr. S.M. Khan. They shared examples of how technology coupled with media outreach, has increased access to education for out-of-school girls and improved the quality of learning for every child.
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