Ethiopia: New School Helps Promote Education for Girls
Miro-Beneta Primary School – located in Woreda, in rural Ethiopia – started in 2007 as an alternative education center for out-of-school children. However, because of the lack of space and facilities, it did not attract many students. (left pic)
In 2009, with funding from UNICEF, a new building was constructed. Now Miro-Beneta has the space and facilities to function as a proper primary 1st cycle school (grades 1-4), with 155 students currently enrolled. Of these, 51 are girls – an unusually high percentage for a region where girls have very little opportunity to get an education.
Zenash Kari Girta is 14-years old and attending grade two. Of the eight children in her family, only three have been given the opportunity to learn. One of her brothers dropped out from school at grade seven because he was expected to marry and lead his own family – just one example of the strong pull that traditional beliefs and customs have on children in Ethiopia.
For a long while Zenash’s father protested against sending his only daughter to school. He believed that his boys could learn and change their lives and families better than could females. Hence, Zenash’s father urged her to support the family by doing household chores. This is a common attitude among community members here, who have little awareness regarding the advantages of education. The average family has seven to ten children, and they are considered more useful working in the fields. They are expected to fetch water, collect fire wood, and look after cattle.
Zenash’s mother, on the other hand, was on her side. She had been to school for a few years before she had to drop out to marry. Wishing better options for her daughter, she ensured her husband that she would carry out all chores assigned to Zenash and that Zenash would still be able to help in the afternoon, after her school day.
For Zenash, going to school feels like a dream come true, and she is making the most of it. She is one of the best students in her class and has no plans of stopping anytime soon. Zenash’s wish is to be a teacher. “And once I am teacher,” she says with obvious conviction, “I will try to make sure that many more girls will go to school.”
