Why are many rural girls less likely to go back to school post lockdown?
While the city schools continued with the online classes during the lockdown, the school-going children in rural areas had no such luxury. The ‘brilliant’ solution of online classes given by the government only worked for the urban areas. For those who usually find it difficult to have two square meals a day, affording a smartphone is a far cry. How can a village living in the light of kerosene lamps for years have access to a stable internet connection? Even if they do, the girls are never the ones to take advantage of such resources. After all, women are the ‘second sex’, aren’t they? According to UNICEF, there are only 29% women internet users as compared to the 67% male users. The gender-based digital divide is another reason for girls to not have access to the internet, and therefore education. The pandemic has further widened the gap of gender disparity in this field.
With many lessons left unlearnt, the lockdown unknowingly put a full stop on their education. Once the school resumes, only boys will be allowed to go back because the girls have been pulled back into the never-ending circle of domestic chores and household responsibilities. The prevailing gender stereotypes have once again blurred the future of these girls who regarded going to school even for a few hours, their one shot at education.
Every other day, the newspaper comes bearing news of another rural girl who committed suicide as they could not attend online classes. The cases of gender-based violence and child abuse have also seen a rise in the last year. This has aggravated the situation even further. Schools were not only a place to receive an education but a safe space away from the atrocities of domestic abuse. It also provided food and nutrition to the children coming from poor households.
The lockdown robbed many of their livelihood and posed a serious financial scarcity. The education of the girls also came to an abrupt end as many migrants moved back to their villages from the cities. The lack of money and the need to settle back in the village amidst other things didn’t include getting enrolled in the nearby school for the girls. This situation is not limited to India but has also hit several other Asian countries and also the rural areas of Africa. According to a survey conducted by Room to Read of 28000 girls in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Vietnam, 42% girls reported the decline in family income as the main reason for dropping out of school.
Many parents now cannot afford to send their children to school. If it comes to a choice to send one child to school, they’ll prefer to send the boy over a girl. Girls have always been banished to the sidelines while the male child continues to prosper in life. Pandemic has given a perfect excuse to the parents who weren’t keen to provide education to the girls in the first place. After all, the money they save on education might one day act as a dowry to marry the girl off. Not to mention, the pressure of marriage is now more than ever. Also, many are forced to take up odd jobs to support the family.
The social and economical restrictions will finally lead to many girls dropping out of school this year. The new semester will begin with empty benches in school and shattered dreams of many girls unless something is done about it.
The government should implement strategies in the rural districts to ensure girls go to school after the lockdown is lifted. It could involve generating awareness amongst the parents to make sure that they send the girls to the school. The fees can be reduced and the textbook material and stationery can be provided by the school. As many educated youths have returned to their villages due to the lockdown, they can volunteer to teach a few basic concepts to these children. The government should work closely with the NGOs that can help with the mitigation strategies and devise plans that have a focus on gender equality in the future.
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Picture credits: Pixabay
Originally published at https://www.fuzia.com.