ALTHOUGH Tanzania has made significant strides in achieving gender equality in school enrolment, challenges persist, particularly when it comes to the transition of girls to secondary and higher education, it has been said.

According to Rebeca Gyumi, the executive director of   ‘Msichana Initiative’, despite the country’s success in enrolling girls in schools, many continue to face barriers that hinder their full potential.

Speaking during a gathering of young female leaders in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, Gyumi called on the government and various stakeholders to continue to advocate for policy improvements and stronger laws to support the development of the girl child.

She highlighted several key challenges, including low parental awareness about the importance of investing in girls’ education, discrimination against young mothers and the long distances girls must travel to go to schools.

She said girls in the country continue to experience violation of various rights with many facing psychological violence, child marriage and limited access to quality education.

She noted that girls living in rural areas and those with disabilities are disproportionately affected by the challenges, which are exacerbated by deep-rooted patriarchal customs and traditions.

She highlighted harmful cultural norms that deny girls fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as gaps in legal protections that have led to an increase in gender-based violence, including child marriage and denial of inheritance rights.

“In efforts to fight the issues and further empower girls and young women, we have organised a gathering of young female leaders to reflect on the impact of the 1995 Beijing Conference on gender equality, leadership and women’s representation,” she said.

Gyumi emphasised the importance of understanding how the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Conference has brought about positive changes, especially in education and gender equality.

Discussions at the event centred on ensuring that girls have equal access to education and how to overcome the barriers that continue to limit their opportunities.

She noted that the ‘World Economic Forum’ recently estimated that with current rates of improvement, full gender parity will be reached in 134 years, or around the year 2158, if notable efforts are not taken to address challenges thwarting the journey.

Gyumi said that while progress has been made over the last three decades, there are still critical issues that prevent girls from fully participating in the education system. “We are grateful to all the young female leaders for their participation and for sharing valuable insights on how we can move forward together,” Gyumi said.

Hellen Sisya, director of the ‘Her Education Foundation’, stressed the importance of collective action to prevent early pregnancies from derailing girls’ education.

“We must work together to ensure that girls remain in school and are supported if they face challenges like early pregnancies,” Sisya said.

She underlined the importance of not only keeping girls in school but also ensuring that they have the support and resources needed to succeed, regardless of the challenges they face.

Rhoda Julius, chair of the Girls Advisory Board of   Msichana Initiative emphasised the importance of empowering girls to achieve their full potential.

“The best way to enable girls to reach their potential is to provide them with opportunities to speak up about their challenges and what they want,” Julius said.

She also highlighted the progress made over the last 30 years, particularly in the development of policies like the re-entry policy for girls who fall pregnant, which allows them to return to school and continue   their education.

“Thirty years after the Beijing Conference, we have witnessed a lot of progress, including the re-entry policy for girls, this is a good step towards inclusive education for all girls,” she said.

She said: “By fostering collaboration among all sectors of society, we can create an environment where every girl in Tanzania has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s development.”