Parents’ denial of girls’ rights to education worrisome -DIN Malawi

Development Initiative Network (DIN)- Malawi has expressed worry over continued forced early marriages among young girls in Chikwawa District, saying the malpractice is hindering the promotion of their education in the country.

Keeping girls in school

The organization expressed the sentiments Friday during football and netball tournaments finals it organized at Dyeratu Primary School in the district.

The organization’s Field Officer, Charity Wanja, Responsible for Girls Empowerment Project, said the tendency was still rampant in some parts of Chikwawa.

“It’s unfortunate that in most areas, girls are being denied their right to access quality education by being married off at a very tender age when they are supposed to be in school.

“Some cultural practices such as Lobola [dowry] refuse to die, thereby fueling early marriages,” said Wanja.

She added that DIN decided to intervene so that girls could remain in school and ensure those who dropped out go back to school.

On her part, Dyeratu Primary School Matron, Matilda Kumbanga hailed DIN Malawi for the project, saying a lot of girls were being retained in different schools in the district.

She then called on the girls to seriously consider education as a priority, saying they would easily live independent life when they became successful.

Both Evelyn Matias, a standard 8 learner at Mantchombe Primary School and Mwaiwawo Viola, a standard 7 learner at Dyeratu Primary School, commended DIN Malawi for implementing activities that have seen a tremendous reduction in early pregnancies and marriages in the district.

The learners, therefore, called for more interventions on the same so that many girls could remain in school so as to avoid early pregnancies.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
1 Comment
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Popapo
Popapo
6 years ago

Thank you DIN please visit us in Karonga, where so many people do not know how to read and write. The authorities there do not want to speak out but during the National Registration campaign the bureau had a serious problem to carry on their duties because score of people in the villages could not read and write. If anyone is in doubt check with bureau about Mbemba village, Mwambetania village in Kasoba and worse as you go towards TA Mwakaboko. If it were old people i could not cry but these are young people 45 years and below.

Read previous post:
Society Malawi host Cricket Academy to literature talk

As one way of championing the development of certain sporting activities, the Society of Malawi, an organization that promotes interest...

Close