Her Right to Learn: Advancing Girl Child Education

Education is a basic fundamental right for every child out there. Still there are hundreds of children who are denied of their right. Especially girls, who are considered as a ‘burden’ in remote areas and are often excluded due to our patriarchal society. Regardless, of their talent and potential, they are blamed to a liability and are not treated in the same way as the ‘boys’ are treated.

Urban areas are no exception either. Women at workplaces become victim of gender bias in term of pay and workload. At homes, especially in rural areas, with the influence of male-dominated society that we live in, women are usually suppressed, treated inferiorly, and bear the consequences of gender bias.

As a society, it becomes our responsibility to aim at minimizing this issue and break the stereotypical notions that has been stuck in the minds of people from a long time. We should believe in providing every child with equal opportunities, regardless of his/her/their gender. Moreover, assist in safeguarding children from all the patriarchal practices and make sure that they thrive in an environment, which is inclusive, valuable, and helps them to grow in every way possible.

Girl Child Education
In can be noted, that people belonging from remote or rural areas are unaware of how education can shape their lives for better. Especially for a girl child, they often believe that investing in her education would be a wastage of money. Rather than this, they believe that instead of educating her, saving up for her marriage and dowry is better, which is even more disheartening. Thus, there is a dire need for developing a healthy perspective in the minds of people, living in rural as well as urban areas, regarding how education is a fundamental right and should not be provided to a child on the basis of his/her/their gender.

Social Structure
It is well said that “an educated girl is an empowered woman”. A girl when educated, is able to make her own decisions, raise not only her own, but her family’s standard of living, take her own stand and voice her opinions, create good employment opportunities for herself and others and so on. She can build a thriving space in the society and can transform it as a whole. Thus, it is important for people to realize that every child, regardless of his/her/their gender be treated with equal love, respect and opportunities.

Building Communities
Education enables children to understand the significance of building communities and working in a team for the betterment of society. While learning in groups or team, they get to know about values like co-operation and team spirit which plays a crucial role in their growth. It also enhances their knowledge and teaches them life-skills such as problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and discipline.

Breaking the cycle of Poverty
One of the most evident as well as prominent benefit of education is that it acts as a tool that enables them to overcome poverty. It helps them in breaking the social stigmas and out stand all the rigid social stigmas. Not only this, but with every girl being educated, the overall economic development also grows along with an increase in women education participation.

Encourages Gender Equality
An educated girl child, when becomes an empowered woman, the first initiative that is taken by her is education and making people aware for the potential of a woman. She is capable of taking her own stand, voicing her opinions, and developing other generations of her family educated and empowered as well.

Raising the Standard of Living
It is true that an educated and informed girl child will assist in the improvement of not only hers but her family’s lifestyle as well. Thus, it is important that every girl in our society must be educated so that she can become a vital resource for our nation’s growth as well as a weapon to overcome all the challenges that may come up her way.

Therefore, as an aware member of the society we live in, we must make sure that the parents as well are well-versed with the significance of education and its impact on a child’s life.

Moreover, even our little step forward could play a crucial role in bridging the gap that exists, so that the gender inequality is minimized and the education for every child along with awareness regarding it is maximized. We should focus on emphasizing on building a supportive as well as a progressive environment for children to grow and flourish as this is what helps in bringing a significant change in a society.