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.

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.