GARISSA — The Forum for African Women Educationalists Kenya (FAWEK) has expressed serious concerns about the alarmingly low rates of school enrollment among girls in Garissa County, revealing that only a small fraction are receiving formal education.
According to Kenya New Agency, FAWEK’s coordinator for Garissa, a mere 11 percent of girls in the region were enrolled in school as of 2022, and only 20 percent have access to education overall. Ochola discussed these issues during a review meeting of the Imarisha Msichana project, a collaborative initiative with the MasterCard Foundation aimed at reducing the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the area.
Ochola urged both government and non-governmental organizations to intensify their support for girls’ education, which remains significantly lower than that of boys. “When you look at the research that has been done, they are all painting a grim picture of our girls’ education. Their numbers in school are way below, which should worry all of us as stakeholders,” he stated.
He highlighted several cultural practices impeding girls’ education in Garissa, including early marriages, pregnancies, school dropouts, and female genital mutilation (FGM). To combat these issues, FAWEK has initiated the ‘TUSEME’ club within schools, providing a platform for girls to voice and address the challenges they face in their educational journeys.
The efforts extend to re-enrolling girls who leave school due to childbirth. “Many times, girls who drop out of school for various reasons never return,” Ochola noted, underscoring the importance of continuous education. FAWEK is actively working with multiple partners, including the ministries of Health and Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and involving boys and men in addressing teenage pregnancy and ensuring that affected girls can continue their studies.
In practical steps, FAWEK has provided computers and digital training in eight Garissa schools and is involved in generating data on teenage pregnancies to inform effective solutions. They also run sensitization forums for students, parents, and community leaders on human sexuality and pregnancy prevention.
Ann Kamau, a teacher and patron of the TUSEME club at Iftin girls’ school, noted the positive impact of these clubs, saying, “They have been helpful to the students since they are now able to speak out and express all the challenges that they faced without fear.” She also mentioned the school’s ‘sisi programme,’ which helps underprivileged community members obtain necessary items like sanitary pads.