Kampala, Uganda: Parents/guardians have been encouraged to empower girl Child for economic growth, political stability and social transformation of the country.
The 2011 research dubbed ‘ The benefits of educating girls in developing countries with a case study in Livingstone, Zambia’, indicates that while the economic benefits of educating a girl are the same as when you educate a boy, the social benefits of educating a girl are greater than when you educate a boy.
Additionally, education is an entry point to opportunities and also a woman’s educational achievements have positive effects which trickle down across generations.
The Wakiso District women Member of Parliament Betty Esther Naluyima says since the outbreak of COVID-19 girl child has suffered alot and parents have used it as scapegoat to stop giving them services mostly those who gave birth.
Naluyima adds that parents should always push their girl children in each and every aspect of life such that they succeed because their success means a lot to social economic and political developments of any society and there are a number of interventions that aimed at empowering children where girls are encouraged to participate because of the power they have to change society which include the child rights clubs, debating clubs, child parliaments and adolescent radio talk shows, among others but many parents/guardians don’t encourage their children to go for them.
The legislator has revealed that it is important to understand that empowering girl child right from when they are young through education, teaching them about their rights and how to defend themselves through the right avenues, will contribute towards an empowered girl by 2030.
She says over 1000 girls in Wakiso District got pregnant during COVID-19 lockdown produced but parents have failed to take back to school although the president direct schools to allow them get education , saying is bad because it fails their goals to be achieved.
He has called upon parents to always fix time for parenting amidst their busy work schedule.
Meanwhile Naluyima has challenged ministry of Gender labor and social development (MGLSD) to come out with a report about girls which are being mistreated in Arabic countries
