In South Africa, no less than 40% of all students dropout out before reaching grade 12. Girls make up the vast bulk of this group.
Cultural and societal expectations, pregnancy, as well as cleanliness and health difficulties, all contribute to this worrisome dropout rate.
According to Joseina Ramgareeb, deputy principal at Centennial Schools, while there is no quick fix for the poverty which exacerbates the issues.
Ramgareeb said that poverty causes many of these obstacles and that educators must change beliefs and challenge gender biases in order to create a better world where female students prosper and future female leaders build on the progress made towards gender equity.
“Gender stereotypes are ingrained into us from an early age, and the language and imagery historically used in classrooms presents different behaviours, capabilities and aspirations for boys than it does for young women,” said Ramgareeb.
“As educators, we have a responsibility to develop and teach inclusive material, and to show our students, both girls and boys, that women are not less.”
Elzanne Hlekani, a teacher of Afrikaans, business studies and tourism, noted that the classroom is a place where future generations of strong women can be developed.
“The beliefs we instil in our young girls mould the women they become. It is critical that female students are encouraged to explore their interests, realise their capabilities, and overcome traditional limitations,” Hlekani said.
The innate bias in school leadership is another issue that needs to be addressed.
According to the World Bank, although gender parity has nearly been reached in sub-Saharan Africa’s primary teaching workforce (female teachers make up 47% of this sector), women still face barriers in advancing to leadership roles in their schools.
Although the gender of instructors has been a major focus of education development strategies over the past ten years as a way to impact girls’ education and ambitions, in certain countries the ratios are as low as one woman for every 10 men.
Education equity appears to be a low priority in South Africa, where new Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has declared her aim to improve low reading and numeracy levels in the curriculum.
Gwarube places a strong emphasis on infrastructural upgrades and upskilling instructors.
In addition, Ramgareeb said it’s critical to support gender sensitivity education for educators and students alike and to create a classroom environment that breaks stereotypes and gives all students a sense of empowerment.
IOL