Tarime advancing in gender equality

BY CORRESPONDENT

After public lectures, postings on notice boards, media coverage and visits with girls in secondary schools, efforts by Friends of Education in Tarime district, Mara region are reportedly bearing positive fruits as more female children are now allowed equal access to education as their male counterparts have long enjoyed.

The announcement was made over the weekend during the group’s national annual general meeting held in Dodoma for three days.

The group’s secretary, in Tarime district, Wincheslaus Byabato, was presenting his report which highlighted that, before the inception of the group in 2002, the district lagged behind in gender equality particular female child education and genital mutilation.

He gave an example of Machochwe ward which had only six primary schools and two secondary schools but lacked a single female student with secondary school qualifications.

So in 2003 the group launched an awareness campaign which has paid off as the group reports that now the ward has a large number of educated women.

The group has also established various economic projects and utilizes part of the proceedings to buy school supplies for less privileged children. The groups efforts have attracted other well wishers including donors from the Embassy of Ireland that has donated resources in cash and kind.

Friends of Education Movement is made up of concerned individuals and organizations from across Tanzania who want to improve and make a difference in the education sector.

The group aims to provide a forum for people throughout Tanzania who care about education and who want to share their views and concerns on matters pertaining to the improvement of education and democracy in the country.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (25/10/2012): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=47304