Compulsory primary and secondary education is one way to stop high school dropout rates

By Dr. Mary Otieno:

On behalf of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, I am very honored to be part of this occasion to commemorate the World Population Day. When we held the national celebrations in Kumi district last year, we were privileged to listen to a story from a young lady called Deborah Atai from Kalaki district, who was a victim of teenage pregnancy.

Becoming a mother in her teens, Deborah was forced to live with her partner and one unintended pregnancy led to two more unplanned for pregnancies for this young teenage girl, who had now dropped out of school and was also unemployed. Her future seemed bleak to her but with support from partners in sexual reproductive health, Deborah was able to access correct information and services and made the decision to go back to school.

Thanks to government strategies like the `Revised Guidelines on the prevention and management of teenage pregnancies in school settings in Uganda` through the Ministry of Education, girls like Deborah are now able to have a second chance in pursuing their dreams. As we speak, Deborah is now a youth councilor in her district and will be sitting her senior four final exams this year. She is inspiring different girls in her community and hopes to continue to pursue her goals of being a woman Member of Parliament. This is the dream we hold for every girl, everywhere; creating a world where every young girl can be able to realize their full potential and contribute to economic and social transformation.

This year’s global theme is: “Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities.”

and the National Theme: “Prioritize Education: prevent school dropouts and increase household incomes”.

Reflecting on the global and a national themes education is seen as one of the ways of unlocking the opportunities for girls especially when they choice to stay and complete education, delay the onset of childbirth, and acquire marketable skills that will enable them to get themselves and their families out of poverty.

Thirty years ago, at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) – 1994 in Cairo, we set out to achieve a world in which people lived longer, healthier lives and enjoyed more rights and choices than ever before. This vision has become a reality for many; in fact, the human population is at its highest number ever, thanks in large part to improvements in health care and increased longevity. Yet, as we celebrate the progress that has been made, we must also recognize that for millions, even billions, of others this promise remains out of reach.

This World Population Day is a reminder that we can achieve the prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable future envisioned by the International Conference on Population and Development – Plan of Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development if we harness the power of every human being on the planet. When we unlock the full potential of women and girls – encouraging and nurturing their desires for their lives, their families, and their careers – we galvanize half the leadership, ideas, innovation, and creativity to better society.

In Uganda today, at lower primary level, gender parity has been achieved. However, dropout rates are recognized at upper primary and secondary level. Early school drop out in late primary and early secondary school years, stand in the way of many girls to acquire marketable skills and career formation for turning the country’s abundant human resource into human capital. This makes it more difficult for the country to improve livelihoods and stay on course for harnessing the demographic dividend and subsequently attaining Uganda’s vision 2040.

Allow me reiterate President Museveni’s call for Compulsory primary and secondary education as one way to stop high school dropout rates. Education opens opportunities for the individual girls, their families, and communities out of poverty especially when girls acquire skills, have access to paid employment and can earn, save, and invest in their future. When girls are able to access sexual reproductive health information at the appropriate age, stay in school for a minimum of 11 years, they are empowered to make decisions on when to marry, start childbirth and to chart the path of their own life. This will therefore ensure that no one is left behind.

Thirty years ago, the world united behind a shared vision of the future, one that recognized the rights of women and girls as central to global development. The solution is clear: Accelerating the advancement of gender equality – through access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, improved education, appropriate labour policies, and equitable norms in the workplace and home – will result in healthier families, stronger economies, and resilient societies.

That message of gender equality is as powerful today as it was then; our resolve must be as well. Let us unite once more to imagine a world in which every one of us has the equal opportunity to thrive and let us join forces to ensure a reality in which every nation’s real wealth – no matter its size or stage of development – is its people, and that means all people, not half.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Uganda under President Museveni's leadership, and the National Population Council and the leadership of Alebtong district, the stakeholders for the preparations for this memorable event.

UNFPA stands with all 45.6 million people in Uganda so that they may claim their rights and make their own choices. Because only that will lead to a future that will bring equality and prosperity to us all.

The author is the UNFPA Country Representative in Uganda. 

This is the abridged version of the remarks she delivered today during the commemoration of this year's World Population Day at Boma Grounds in Aleptong District.