By Flata Kavinga
Parents have been urged to provide equal educational opportunities for both girls and boys and to protect their rights as part of efforts to eliminate child marriages and promote children’s welfare.
Speaking during the Day of the African Child commemorations held at Mgandani Secondary School in Zhombe yesterday (Thursday) Plan International project coordinator for Ending Child Marriages Initiative, Rumbidza Gwandingwa said gender inequalities within households continue to disadvantage many girls.
Gwandingwa said in many families, girls shoulder most domestic responsibilities, limiting the time available for their studies.
“In a home set-up, it is usually the girl child who carries the burden of household chores, including fetching water and other domestic duties,” she said.
She urged parents and guardians to ensure that both girls and boys have equal access to education and sufficient time to study.
“We need to give equal access to education to both the girl child and the boy child. Children must also be given the opportunity to study at home so that we secure a better future for them,” she said.
Gwandingwa noted that while some communities have embraced equal educational opportunities for boys and girls, others continue to neglect the education of the girl child.
“There are communities that promote education for both the girl and boy child, while in others the girl child is neglected,” she said.
She appealed to parents to treat children equally and invest in the education of both boys and girls.
“We appeal to parents to give equal opportunities to both the girl child and the boy child in education,” Gwandingwa said.
The commemorations brought together community members, traditional leaders, government officials, development partners and learners to raise awareness on children’s rights and the need to end child marriages and other forms of abuse affecting children.
