Editor’s note: The Global Girls’ Bill of Rights states that all girls have the right to free quality education which prepares them for the modern world. If you’d like to advocate for girls’ right to education like Azmi, check out The Global Girls’ Bill of Rights Toolkit for tips and resources!

Author: Azmi Haji, former STF Programs Intern

The pandemic has created global barriers to education, from challenges like vaccine inequity, budget cuts, and the lack of safe infrastructure within the education system to socio-economic constraints and the rising rates of gender-based violence.  Adolescent girls are more likely to be pulled from school during emergencies than boys, making girls more vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and harmful practices. 

70% of adolescent girls surveyed by AMPLIFY in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania reported seeking income-generating activities during the pandemic. The same survey found that 49% of adolescent girls surveyed in Nairobi, Kenya, reported increased dependence on transactional sex during COVID-19 school closures. A 2021 survey published by the Population Council found that 16% of vulnerable adolescent girls have not returned to school since the pandemic, compared to 8% of adolescent boys out of 4000 adolescents living in urban settlements and rural counties. 

Secondary education is a gateway to personal development and better leadership and employment opportunities, meaning that women disproportionately experience the negative impacts of COVID-19.  A woman’s right to education needs to be protected. Access to secondary education empowers girls and changes their lives, enabling them to make informed decisions and gain cultural and world perspectives. Accessing secondary education allows girls to build a quality future that improves avenues for care and provides comprehensive sexuality education and psychosocial support. 

“In some territories, access to education is costly, and for families with little to no income, receiving a quality education is not accessible. There must be an increase in the number of available scholarships with suitable and country-specific requirements for students to receive an education.” 

Only 3% of global humanitarian aid goes towards education in emergencies, and more than one in three countries allocate less than 15% of total government expenditures to education. As a result of the pandemic, an estimated 10 million girls may never return to school. A 2021 article published by NWorld found that an estimated four million girls will not complete their education due to the impacts of climate change.  

The pandemic has made online learning difficult for low-income students. Girls everywhere need greater access to the educational resources required for adequate online learning environments. Receiving an education is a human right, and no group of people is less than human.   

“Due to increased online schooling, students must be given access to proper equipment such as books and digital devices to have a fair chance at online education.” 

Such economic instabilities due to Covid-19 have led to girls taking up peculiar jobs to meet their basic needs, with about 29% of girls dropping out of school during Covid. Most girls dropped out due to pregnancy, while 30% of girls that returned to school were pregnant. 

All governments should encourage girls who fall pregnant to go back to school. The government of Kenya is working on policies that expand access to secondary education for teenage mothers in the area. The parents of girls should be involved in strategies that support educating their daughters. 

Governments should encourage community workers and agencies to work with groups and communities who are direct and indirect beneficiaries of interventions included in all decision-making processes. Youth and marginalized communities must engage in meaningful consultations with international and local organizations. These interactions will ensure a bright future for women that is equitable, decolonized, and anti-racist.

Education is a girl’s ticket to a more promising future. Increasing access to education and inclusion of marginalized communities helps eradicate unjust social norms and gender barriers experienced by girls. Girls’ education should be a priority, and you should do everything possible to ensure a promising future for girls.    

Azmi Haji, 23, studies at Riara University in Nairobi, Kenya. She’s majoring in International Relations and Diplomacy. She’s passionate about girls’ rights in education, and breaking barriers of unequal gender norms within our society. She likes reading, hiking, and traveling.