Editorial
Explore more higher education opportunities for girls
It is often said that educating the girl child is equal to educating a nation. In most developing countries, Rwanda included, the girl child, has historically had a raw deal in regard to access to education.
This is derived from a traditional society based on patriarchy, where girls were expected to be married off and live a life of home makers. It goes without saying that not much was expected from the girl child in as far as playing a leadership role in society is concerned.
Rwanda has over the last few years moved to debunk this notion of the girl child being undeserving of accessing higher education opportunities.
A number of institutions, both state and non state actors, have played a pivotal role in ensuring that the girl child is given an equal chance as boys to access education and compete.
Opportunities have been availed to girls to pursue higher education at well regarded institutions of higher learning and have returned to make significant contribution to the process of national development. Recently, a some girls were awarded scholarships under the Open A Door, non profit organization to pursue higher education in the US.
They follow in the footsteps of many other Rwandan girls who have been availed opportunities which they have seized and put to good use.
In almost all offices and sectors in the country, one meets poised and hardworking young ladies of substance who are part of the vanguard of national transformation. The success that is the many that have made it is a vindication of these great efforts.
But more needs to be done. It is important that stakeholders explore more opportunities for the girl child’s higher education especially those highly intelligent yet underprivileged.
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As headmaster of Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology of course I agree wholeheartedly with the point of view of this editorial, and all of us associated with GGAST are doing what we can to advance this goal. I want to add my praise to the Open A Door Foundation as well. As a guest in your country I continue to be most impressed with what Rwanda has accomplished since 1994 and especially in the education sector, and more recently for girls. Your nation should be proud. But as the editorial acknowledges there is still much progress to be made. May I suggest that what is needed is a comprehensive examination of P-16 education, in other words, primary, secondary AND tertiary (university) matriculation strategies. A house will not stand unless it has a strong foundation, and Rwanda's students, especially its extraordinary young women, must begin university preparation (and vocational and life preparation) from the very first day of primary school. Yes, it is true that any remaining barriers (such as inequitably distributed resources) must be removed, but even more importantly, more life-changing opportunities must be identified and developed. To that end, and assuming that Rwanda's universities will not have the capacity to enroll all of Rwanda's eligible youth in the near term, I encourage the creation of a national clearinghouse with information about universities around the world that are committed to enrolling (and making it possible through scholarship awards) a diverse student body, including African students. And why not especially Rwandan students who are incredibly hard-working and devoted not only to their own goals but to the national goals as outlined in Vision 2020 as well? I will be returning to the USA for my annual holiday in July, and I intend to tell as many universities as I can what extraordinary "human capital" exists among the girls who are here at GGAST, which I am sure is also true of many schools throughout the country. I am honored to be working in your country.
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