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• Save Girl Child Essay

Essay on Save Girl Child

In the vast tapestry of human existence, one thread that has often been neglected is the significance of saving the girl child. Our world is replete with challenges, but amidst them, the cause of saving girl children stands out as a beacon of hope and progress. In this essay, we will delve into the reasons why saving the girl child is crucial, explore the challenges they face, and propose actionable solutions to ensure a brighter and more equitable future for all.

1. The Girl Child - A Precious Asset:

The birth of a girl child should be celebrated with as much joy and enthusiasm as that of a boy. Girls, like boys, are an essential part of the human mosaic, contributing their unique strengths and abilities to society. Yet, across the globe, the birth of a girl child is often met with sorrow, discrimination, and, in extreme cases, abandonment.

Societies need to recognize that girls are not liabilities but assets. The potential within every girl is boundless, and by neglecting or mistreating them, we squander opportunities for progress, innovation, and social harmony.

2. Challenges Faced by the Girl Child:

Despite progress in various spheres, the girl child continues to face multifaceted challenges. These challenges, deeply rooted in cultural, social, and economic contexts, hinder their development and well-being.

Gender Discrimination: From a young age, girls are subjected to discriminatory practices that limit their access to education, healthcare, and opportunities. Stereotypes and biases perpetuate harmful norms, reinforcing the idea that girls are inferior or less capable than boys.

Lack of Educational Opportunities: One of the primary avenues for empowerment is education, yet many girls are denied this fundamental right. Poverty, cultural norms, and lack of infrastructure contribute to the gender gap in education. Ensuring equal access to education for girls is not only a matter of justice but also a key driver for societal progress.

Child Marriage: Another pressing issue that jeopardizes the well-being of the girl child is child marriage. Forced into early marriages, girls are robbed of their childhood, education, and opportunities for personal growth. Early marriage often leads to early pregnancies, putting both the young mothers and their infants at higher risk of health complications. By combating child marriage, we pave the way for a healthier and more equitable future.

Health Disparities: The health of the girl child is often neglected due to gender-based discrimination. From infancy to adolescence, girls may face disparities in nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation. Ensuring access to proper healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation facilities is not only a matter of basic human rights but also a crucial step in safeguarding the well-being of the girl child.

3. The Economic Impact of Empowering Girls:

Investing in the well-being and education of girls is not merely a matter of morality; it is a smart economic strategy. The empowerment of girls leads to a ripple effect that benefits entire communities and societies.

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Educated and empowered girls are more likely to break the cycle of poverty. They contribute to their families' income, invest in their children's education, and become catalysts for positive change within their communities.

Economic Productivity: When girls are given equal opportunities, they contribute significantly to the workforce, boosting economic productivity. The untapped potential of millions of girls around the world represents an opportunity for global economic growth.

4. Solutions and Interventions:

To save the girl child and ensure their well-being, a multi-faceted approach is needed, encompassing changes in societal attitudes, policy reforms, and grassroots initiatives.

Education for All: Governments and communities must work together to ensure that every girl has access to quality education. Initiatives that address barriers such as financial constraints, cultural norms, and lack of infrastructure are crucial to closing the gender gap in education.

Empowering Communities: Cultural change is a gradual process, but empowering communities to challenge harmful norms is vital. Grassroots initiatives, community awareness programs, and collaborations with local leaders can help challenge stereotypes and promote gender equality.

Legal Reforms: Stringent legal measures are essential to combat gender-based discrimination and violence. Governments must enact and enforce laws that protect the rights of the girl child, including legislation against child marriage, female genital mutilation, and other harmful practices.

Healthcare Access: Ensuring access to quality healthcare for girls is paramount. This includes reproductive health services, nutritional support, and awareness programs to address issues such as maternal mortality and gender-specific health concerns.

Saving the girl child is not just a moral imperative but a strategic investment in a better, more equitable future. By addressing the challenges faced by girls and implementing comprehensive solutions, we pave the way for a world where every girl can realize her full potential.

As a global community, we must collectively commit to breaking the shackles of gender discrimination and providing girls with the tools they need to thrive. Only by saving the girl child can we ensure a future where every individual, regardless of gender, contributes meaningfully to the tapestry of human progress. It is time to recognize the value of the girl child and embrace a future where equality is not just a lofty ideal but a lived reality for all.

FAQs on Save Girl Child Essay

1. How many paragraphs are important to write an essay?

The number of paragraphs in an essay depends on how the writer is distributing the content. If the essay is formal, less information and fewer paragraphs with precise information will work. To write an excellent academic essay, the writer needs at least four to five paragraphs. To write and present them handsomely, the writer must plan the positioning of information. Then after having a proper mental or rough layout, the writer must start with a compelling and eye-catchy first introductory paragraph. Introduction paragraphs can fluctuate between two to four, not more than that. Then comes the main body of the essay. These can be as many as a writer wants until he/she repeats the same data again and again. The body can include very detailed information, facts, and explanations to opinions. Then the writer has to write the last two to three paragraphs for the conclusion. This can be one too Conclusion will decide how much the reader will take from the essay. The conclusion should summarize all the information for the reader.

2. How to start an Essay?

The introduction of any written piece matters a lot because it just has a few blinks of time to win the reader's interest and their time. That's why a mind-blowing introduction can get you full marks, admission, or whatever you are trying to convey. To give your essay a good start, firstly you should note down, in what format you are choosing to write. That means you should priorly know how you are going to divide information in the essay. Then comes the very important first sentence of the essay. Most of the people who'll come across your essay will read the title and first sentence. The first sentence should have a shocking or exciting element that makes it stand and gives more curiosity to the reader. The person should also keep in mind that the information in the first paragraph should relate to the body and not end up like a clickbait advertisement. Writing the introduction is important for any article or essay and should be kept in mind. 

3. What steps has the government taken to save girls in India?

Some of the schemes for supporting girl children by the government are-

Balika Samriddhi Yojana - Balika Samriddhi Yojana is a scheme started by the central government to support girls in financially weak sections of society. This scheme guarantees the admissions and retention of girls into primary and secondary schools.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana - Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a scheme that promotes the welfare of girls. The scheme facilitates parents to support and create funds for her education and marriage expenses.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao - Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is the scheme that promotes education within girl children, as the name translates to 'Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl child. The scheme believes in women empowerment that leads to the building of an ecosystem for the same. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao assists girls' safety before and after they are born. 

4. Why are girls important in society?

No article can tell you how important girls are in our society and what roles they play. But, here are very few of many reasons why girls are important in society- 

Caretaker - Women play the role of birth giver and the caretaker in society. Women hold up the family and give unconditional love to their kids.

Educators - Women are the educators of society. As the famous quote says, teach a girl and she'll make sure every member is educated. Women are excellent teachers and thus we have seen over the years many female teachers changing the lives of students.

Workforce - Women are intelligent and have taken over the share of good jobs and responsibilities over the world. Especially in the urban and rural workforce, the role of women has grown very much in recent times and has resulted in massive development all over the world.

5. How to save girls in India?

Girls are very important in any country but in recent years female homicide and the easily available illegal abortion practices have made it easier for parents to identify and kill the girl child. It's the responsibility of every individual in society to take up the challenge of spreading awareness and bringing an end to this sin. Following are some ways how one can help in saving the girl child

Creating a safe environment for all women.

Spreading awareness and altering mindsets to ensure that communities and households welcome and celebrate daughters.

Giving proper education to more and more people.

Give recognition and celebrate women in the world.

Ensure fair and equal wages and no harassment environment for women.

Supporting women's resistance to violence and assisting them in raising their voices.

Ensuring that all women have access to the property.

• UN Observances

  Women and girls can lead us to a fairer future...let us amplify girls’ voices, and recommit to working together to build a world where every girl can lead and thrive." UN Secretary-General António Guterres  

Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being

This year, at a time when we are seeing a range of movements and actions to curtail girls’ and women’s rights and roll back progress on gender equality, we see particularly harsh impacts on girls. From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programmes; there is an urgent need for increased attention and resourcing for the key areas that enable girls to realize their rights and achieve their full potential.

Responding to girls’ calls for change, the global community must move beyond reaffirming commitments and invest boldly in the action needed to make that change. When we pay attention, we see that, already, many girls are championing solutions and change in their communities. Together with our government and civil society partners, UNICEF envisions a world where girls have space to shape government policy and spending to inform the rules and norms by which businesses should operate, and to direct the priorities for new research and innovations. These examples should not be novelties, but the norm.

Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being

09:30 am, oct 11, 2023.

Organized by UNICEF and Plan International, the 2023 event aims to unite adolescent girls with advocates for their rights, including UN leaders, NGOs, businesses, and governments. The event showcases a world where girls actively influence government policies, business practices, and research priorities. This vision needs global commitment and specific funding to become the standard. We hope you will be able to join us and organize a viewing party wherever you are, with and for girls.

In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls. The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out girls’ rights.

On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted  Resolution 66/170  to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.

Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind.

Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.

Vanessa Nakate on how the climate crisis impacts girls

Vanessa Nakate, 25, is a Ugandan climate change activist and founder of the Africa-based Rise Up Movement. Nakate speaks out on the climate crisis and its intersection with gender and race, especially in how it disproportionately affects women and girls in Africa.

Did you know?

• Nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary school today.
• Around 90 per cent of adolescent girls and young women do not use the internet in low-income countries, while their male peers are twice as likely to be online.
• Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age.
• Adolescent girls continue to account for 3 in 4 new HIV infections among adolescents.
• Nearly 1 in 4 married/partnered adolescent girls aged 15-19 have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.
• Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million girls were at risk of child marriage in the next decade. And now over the next ten years, up to 10 million more girls worldwide will be at risk of marrying as children because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A New Era For Girls

Today’s more than 1.1 billion girls are poised to take on the future. Every day, girls are breaking boundaries and barriers, tackling issues like child marriage, education inequality, violence, climate justice, and inequitable access to healthcare. Girls are proving they are unstoppable.

Publication: A New Era for Girls; Taking stock of 25 years of progress .

Key Documents

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• Convention on The Rights of Child
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Beijing+5 Political Declaration and Outcome
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Publications

• Adolescent Girls Programme Strategy, 2022 - 2025
• Global Annual Results Report 2022: Gender equality
• Bridging the Gender Digital Divide
• Legislating and enforcing the minimum age of marriage: A comparative study of experiences and lessons learned in ending the legalization of child marriage
• Gender-Transformative Accelerator
• UNICEF: International Day of the Girl Child
• UN Women: International Day of the Girl Child
• UNESCO: International Day of the Girl Child
• UN Secretary-General's Campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women
• The Spotlight Initiative
• World Bank: Girls' Education 
• UN Women Special Focus compilation on the Girl Child
• United Nations Girls' Education Initiative
• International Labour Organization: Gender and child labour in agriculture
• UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage
• UN Global Issues: Gender equality
• SDG-5: Gender equality

Related Observances

• International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science
• International Women's Day
• International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
• World Day Against Child Labour
• International Youth Day
• International Literacy Day
• World Children’s Day
• UN Decade for Women

Global Issues: Gender Equality

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth.

Skills4Girls : Girl-centered solutions for unlocking the potential of adolescent girls

There are more than 600 million adolescent girls in the world today — equipped with the right resources and opportunities, they will be the largest cohort of female leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and change-makers the world has ever seen. Learn more .

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

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International Day of the Girl Child: History, importance, and how to contribute

International day of the girl child: this year, the un urges the world to bridge the gender digital divide that exists in diverse skills and jobs – a challenge that society is increasingly facing due to the prevailing coronavirus disease (covid-19) pandemic..

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on October 11, a date set by the United Nations to urge the global community to embolden gender equality impacts. This year, the UN urges the world to bridge the gender digital divide that exists in diverse skills and jobs – a challenge that society is increasingly facing due to the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. “The gender digital divide in connectivity, devices, and use, skills and jobs is real,” the UN said in an official statement detailing the significance of the International Day of the Girl Child 2021. “It is an inequity and exclusion gap across geographies and generations that is our challenge to address if the digital revolution is to be for all, with all, by all.”

International Day of the Girl Child: History

A blueprint for a proper framework of recognising girls' rights first began to take shape in 1995 at the World Conference on Women in China. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was unanimously adopted by all the countries present, was since regarded as “the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls.”

Later, on December 18, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognise the unique challenges that girls face around the world, which may share links but also be completely different from the kind of challenges that women face.

International Day of the Girl Child: Significance

Adolescent girls go through an exceptionally important phase where they can be empowered with the right tools to change the world by ensuring a safe, educated, and healthy lifestyle. They have the potential to be both the empowered girl of today as well as tomorrow’s worker, mother, entrepreneur, mentor, household head, or political leader. According to the United Nations, “An investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.”

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015 embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind. Each of the 17 goals is integral to achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.

International Day of the Girl Child: How to be involved

According to the UN, there are more than a few ways one can get involved with promoting the International Day of the Girl Child. One can share stories, blogs, and videos of inspiring adolescent girls who are tech trailblazers while collectively amplifying the call to action to expand these pathways for every girl, everywhere.

Moreover, people can also make themselves more aware of the ways to address the gender digital divide and further amplify the means to achieving meaningful and sustainable change in a digital revolution.

• International Day Of The Girl Child

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Value of girl child, change for progress in south asia.

One-third of all children in the world live in South Asia with unequal opportunities. Girls, in particular, face gender-specific barriers, biases, and are vulnerable to multiple levels of discrimination due to pervasive norms and harmful practices. These, in turn, determine the value of the girl child in society.

Here's a video that highlights these gender imbalances and low value of girl child in the region with a strong message to stop and remove these pervasive norms and barriers.

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• CHAPTER 1 Introduction
• CHAPTER 2 Types of education
• CHAPTER 3 Importance of education
• CHAPTER 4 Early Childhood Education
• CHAPTER 5 Education system in India
• CHAPTER 6 Girl Child Education in India
• CHAPTER 7 Role of the civil society in the education sector
• CHAPTER 8 About Oxfam India
• CHAPTER 9 Role of Oxfam India in girl child education
• CHAPTER 10 Why donate to Oxfam India

Importance of Girl Child Education

Empowering girls through education.

Everyone wishes to see this world become a better place and strives to do their bit to change the world. But often we find it difficult to find a cause we want to support and the organization we would like to donate to.

Here we will explore the issue of quality and affordable education, which can help you understand why it is one of the most pressing issues and how you can sponsor child education in India. It will also help you understand.

Oxfam India’s work in education and how you can support Oxfam India to educate a child.

What You Will Know About Girl Child Education in This Resource

To help you read on all specific topics, we've put together an interactive table of contents. Click each link to be jumped to different sections. (Or, you can also scroll down and start from the beginning.)

• Definition of Education
• Types of Education
• Importance of Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Education System in India
• Girl Child Education in India
• Role of the Civil Society in the Education Sector
• About Oxfam India
• Role of Oxfam India in Girl Child Education
• Donate to Oxfam India

What is education? Is there a difference between education and schooling? In this chapter we will learn what is the meaning of education and the concept of education.

What is education?

Education definition.

The term ‘Education’ originated from the Latin word ‘Educare’, which means ‘to bring up’ or ‘to nourish’. Another Latin word ‘Educatum’ gave birth to the English term ‘Education’. ‘Educatum’ means ‘the art of teaching’ or training.

Oxford dictionary defines education as, “a process of teaching, training, and learning, especially in schools or colleges, to improve knowledge and develop skills.” It is the action or process of being educated.

Concept of education

Most of us, when we think of education, we imagine a formal school, with students learning subjects like Mathematics, English Literature, Social Studies, Physics, Chemistry, or Biology. We imagine a school where students play sports in their free time and are regularly assessed through exams. But is education only confined to a school or university building? Can a child, or even an adult learn outside of school and improve their knowledge and skills?

Education is the process of acquisition of knowledge and experiences, and development of skills and attitudes of an individual, which help them lead a fruitful life and contribute to the development of the society. The main purpose of education is the all-round development of individuals. Education aims to not only focus on skill development, but also on personality development to help individuals become socially responsible citizens of a country.

What is value education?

Value education aims to develop certain attitudes in individuals so they are able to face different situations in life. It is often wrongly assumed that value education teaches values. Value education does not teach values but develops the ability to find one’s own values. Individuals are encouraged to develop critical thinking so they can deal with conflicts, understand their actions and their consequences, develop healthy relationships, and become dependable members of the society.  

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/education

Education goes beyond the four walls of a classroom. A child continues to learn throughout their life, even during adulthood, through different experiences. Different types of education, gives different types of learnings.

How many types of education are there

There are three main types of education. In this chapter, we will learn the different types of education, their examples, characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

What are the three types of education

The types of education are: Formal Education, Informal Education, and Non-formal Education.

1. What is Formal Education

Formal Education refers to the education imparted to students in an established educational institute premises by trained teachers. The teachers must have a certain level of training in the art of education and knowledge of relevant subjects.

Students are taught basic academic skills based on a certain syllabus. Regular assessments of learning outcomes are conducted through examinations. There is a set of established rules which both teachers and students follow in order to complete formal education.

Formal education begins at the elementary/primary level, continues through high school and college or university. Children often attend nursery or kindergarten before beginning their formal education.

What is primary education

Formal education begins with primary education, also called elementary education. Primary education begins in kindergarten and lasts till the sixth grade. Depending on the specific education system, primary education may even begin from class 1 till class 4 – class 7. Primary education helps children develop the ability to learn and understand the rules of formal education.

What are the examples of Formal Education

• Classroom instructions or training
• Grading and certification in school, colleges, and university
• Set subjects and syllabus

What are the characteristics of Formal Education

• Structured hierarchy
• Strict rules and discipline
• Regular fee
• Grading system
• Formal teacher-student relationship

What are the advantages of Formal Education

• Structured and organised
• Trained professionals as teachers
• Regular assessments to enable students to reach higher levels
• Recognised certification
• Better access to employment

What are the disadvantages of Formal Education

• Rigid and lacks flexibility for students to pursue their own interest
• Too much importance to grades puts extreme pressure on those with average scores
• Fails to recognize non-academic talents in students
• Set syllabus limits the scope of learning
• High expenses

2. What is Informal Education

Unlike Formal Education, Informal Education is not imparted in school, college or university. It is not deliberate, does not follow a set syllabus and timetable, and there are no regular assessments. There is no structured teacher-student relationship.

Informal Education is imparted by parents to their children, one person to another. Children learning how to ride a bicycle from their parents, one individual teaching another how to bake are examples of informal education.

Informal Education is also conducted through reading books, or online material. It is also the education obtained in one’s surroundings, in their daily lives, like in a marketplace, or by simply living in a community. Individuals who join some community groups and learning occurs during their activities, or take up some project of their own and learn themselves, are also considered to be acquiring informal education.

What are the examples of Informal Education

• Spontaneous learning – a person learns how to use an automatic ticket vending machine
• Parents teaching their children certain skills
• Individuals taking up a sport activity on their own
• Learning a psychological fact by reading a website article

What are the characteristics of Informal Education

• It is spontaneous
• Happens outside the formal classroom
• Life-long process
• No structured syllabus
• No grading system for what one learns

What are the advantages of Informal Education

• More flexible as individual have the advantage to choose what they wish to learn
• Individuals have the opportunity to learn the skills not taught in formal education
• Utilizes a variety of means – TV, internet, conversations, magazines
• Learners are more motivated as they have flexibility
• Less costly
• Flexible time

What are the disadvantages of Informal Education

• Lack of discipline or rules may lead to inconsistency
• Information acquired through internet or conversations may not be reliable
• No set timelines or schedule
• Difficult to recognize

3. What is Non-formal Education

Non-formal Education is organised education outside the formal school/university system. It is often referred to as adult education, adult literacy education, or community education. Non-formal education is conducted by community groups, government schemes, or an institute. It can also be conducted as home education or distance learning.

Non-formal education may not have a set syllabus or curriculum. It focuses on the development of job skills, develop reading and writing skills in out of school children or illiterate adults. Non-formal education system may also be used to bring out-of-school children at par with those in formal education system.

This system does not have a specific target group and does not necessarily conduct examinations. Children, youth, and adults can be a part of this system.

What are the examples of Non-formal Education

• Community based adult education programmes
• Community based sports programmes for children
• Fitness programmes by private institutes
• Computer and language courses in a community
• Online courses

What are the characteristics of Non-formal Education

• Has a flexible curriculum
• There is no age or time limit
• One can earn while learning
• Examinations may not be necessarily conducted
• May not require certification
• Involves vocational learning

What are the advantages of Non-formal Education

• Flexibility of age and time
• Freedom to pursue one’s interest and choose a programme
• No need of regular exams or grades
• Helps in learning useful job skills

What are the disadvantages of Non-formal Education

• Lack of certificates may leave a skill unrecognized
• Students may be irregular due to the lack of set regulations
• Untrained teachers
• Basic reading and writing skills may still be required
• Lack of formal structure and rules may lead to students discontinuing

In this chapter, we will learn about the importance of education, early childhood education and the impact of lack of education.

Why education is important

Now that we know what are the different types of education, let us explore the importance of education in life.

Education is a human right. Education is important for not only a holistic development of an individual, but the society as well. 59 million children and 65 million adolescents are out of school, across the world, and more than 120 million children do not complete primary education.

Lack of education hampers an individual from reaching their full potential. Out of school children miss out the opportunity to develop their skills and to join the work force later in their adult life. Unemployment further creates more stress among people, especially the youth, leading to social unrest and crimes, adversely impacting the development of a country. Hence, education is the key to an individual’s and a country’s development. Learn more about illiteracy in India.

All the different types of education enable an individual develop cognitive skills, emotional intelligence, and skills required to be employed.

Education helps an individual develop the ability to think critically, understand the people around them and their surroundings, make informed decisions, and understand the consequences of their actions on themselves and others. Education is necessary for an individual to live a fruitful life and become a responsible member of the society.

Education must begin early in an individual’s life, during early childhood. This is the time when important brain development occurs. In the next chapter we will explore early childhood education more in depth. Let us first understand the importance of education in an individual’s life and the importance of education for a country.

Why is education important for an individual

As already discussed, education helps an individual develop cognitive skills and emotional intelligence. An uneducated person, who doesn’t understand themselves, who cannot understand how to interact with people around them, is isolated from their society.

Humans are social beings and need to form healthy relationships with their fellow humans and live with them in harmony, in order to survive. Lack of education, hampers a person’s ability to understand other people’s emotions and cannot understand their own emotions to be able to form a relationship. Additionally, education helps individuals combat diseases, change regressive social norms, and promote peace.

Further, an individual who does not attend school, or take any form of formal education, cannot develop the skills required to enter the workforce, and is eventually pushed into poverty.

Why is education important for a country

Education is the key to economic development. It reduces poverty, boosts economic growth, by ensuring people enter the work force and increase their income.

Education helps promote stability in times of conflict and crisis. Children are forced out of school in a conflict situation, leading to high drop-out rates. The chance of education lays a path to normalcy for children. Girl child education, especially, benefits a country. Educated women can make informed decisions, reduce gender violence, have fewer children, and join the work force. It is the first stepping stones towards ending gender based discrimination and inequality. This village in Uttar Pradesh has an inspiring story of changing regressive social norms through education.

In this chapter, we will learn what is early childhood and the importance of early childhood education.

What is an early childhood

Early childhood is the period from birth to eight years of age. These are the most critical years in a child’s life. During this time the brain is at its peak development stage and determine a child’s development over the course of their lives. 

This is period is extremely crucial because children develop cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills. They are highly influenced by their environment and require utmost care by parents and community members to ensure holistic development. Hence, the emphasis on early childhood education.

What is early childhood education?

Early childhood education is not only preparation for primary school, it also aims to develop basic life skills in children to lay a foundation of lifelong learning and success. It consists of varied activities to aid in the cognitive and social development of children before they start preschool. 

It consists of both formal and informal education. Parents are considered to be the first ones educating a child, as a child develops their first relationship with parents. This relationship can have a significant impact on child development and early childhood education. This stage of early childhood care and education typically starts between 0 to 2 years of age. 

After this stage, formal education starts. Formal education for early childhood may vary from state to state, a child’s age and their learning abilities. Early childhood education programmes may vary for each age group and run at different levels – nursery, playgroup, preschool, and kindergarten.

Why is early childhood education important?

A child’s brain is at its peak developmental stage from 0 to 8 years of age. Their experiences lay the foundation of a child’s emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Following are some of the benefits of early childhood education:

Social skills

Humans are social beings. They need to develop healthy relationships in order to live a fruitful life. Early childhood education ensures children learn how to socialize with other children of their age, with people outside of their immediate family and develop the skills to successfully socialize with people later on in their lives.

Sharing with others is the core of any relationship and peaceful society. Early childhood education enables a child to learn how to share their things so they can develop strong friendships with other children. 

Team working skill is one of the most important assets of an individual’s holistic development. The skill is useful throughout formal education, in personal relationships, and in the workforce. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that children develop skills early in their childhood. 

A child cannot be educated if they do not have the enthusiasm and curiosity to learn new things. Early childhood education programmes ensure that children develop the curiosity to learn. 

What are early childhood education programmes

Several organisations in India, public, private, and non-governmental sectors provide early childhood education programmes. Below are early child education programmes in India, across different sectors: 

Government organisations

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) plays a key role in providing early childhood education in India. The ministry has set up Anganwadi centres (courtyard shelters) across rural areas to provide health, nutrition, and education to children from minority groups and economically weak groups. The government has facilitated the transition of children from preschool to elementary school, by relocating the Anganwadi centres close to elementary schools and aligning their schedule with those of elementary schools.

Non-government organisations

In India, non-government organisations have an important role in filling the gaps left by the government. NGOs working for education provide early childhood care and child education to marginalised children. As per government estimates, NGOs run child education programmes have provided education to 3 to 20 million children in India. The programmes include direct intervention in areas where there are no government programmes or to improve the quality of government programmes. Oxfam India works with a network of grassroot partners across six states in India, to facilitate education, especially girl child education, and advocates for increased government spending in the public education system. Oxfam India and one of its partner, Lokmitra, run this small school in Raebareily which attracts students from private school as well.

Private Institutes

India has seen a rapid rise in private institutions at all levels of education. As per government estimates, around 10 million children have participated in early child education programmes run by private organisations. Some organisations provide only early childhood care and education, while others may run till elementary school and/or higher secondary school level. Private schools, however, charge exorbitant fee, leaving millions of children out of the education system.

Early childhood education in India

According to Census 2011, there are 164.48 million (approximately 16.5 crores), children from 0 to 6 years of age in India. [6]  These numbers indicate a strong need for efficient early childhood education programmes in India. Constitutional and policy provisions have been made to ensure early childhood education in India.

Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, provides for the right to free and compulsory education for children from 6 to 14 years of age, in purview of the Right to Education Act (RTE) (2009). Article 45 urges the state government to provide Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) to all children till the age of six years. 

The Right to Education Act, guarantees children the right to free education, whereas, ECCE is not stated as a compulsory provision. The RTE states to provide free pre-school education for children above three years. In 2013, the Government of India approved the National Early Childhood Care and Education Policy. [7]  

The policy promotes free, universal, inclusive, equitable, joyful, and contextualised opportunities for laying foundation and attaining full potential for all children below 6 years of age. [8]  It aims to promote a holistic development of children in the said age group. The policy is a key milestone in filling the gap in early childhood care and development in India and strengthening elementary education. 

https://www.educationforallinindia.com/early-childhood-care-and-education-in-india-1.pdf - National University of Education Planning and Administration – New Delhi - page 26

• https://unicef.in/Whatwedo/40/Early-Childhood-Education

https://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/national_ecce_curr_framework_final_03022014%20%282%29.pdf

Education in India is provided by public and private schools. The most important element of the education system in India, is the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, (RTE). RTE constitutionally guarantees education as a fundamental right of every child in the age group of 6 to 14 years.

Despite the provision, there are more than 60 lakh children out of school in India. [10]

In this chapter, we will understand the provisions laid down by the RTE and the gaps in its implementation.

What is Right to Education Act 

The RTE Act (2009) lays down legal provisions to grant every child aged between six to fourteen years, the right to free and compulsory elementary education of an appropriate standard in a neighbourhood school. Here are some interesting facts about RTE.

Education is a concurrent subject in which both the Centre and the states play a role. It is necessary for the states to draft rules to implement the provisions laid down in the RTE, with reference to the framework provided by the Centre. The states can modify the rules to suit their local needs. However, implementation of RTE has greatly varied across the states.  [11]

India continues to fail to spend the financial resources required to meet the minimal norms under the RTE Act. Bihar, for instance, spends only 30% of what is needed to implement the Act in totality – enrolling all children in school, hiring the minimum number of required teachers, improving infrastructure, and providing learning materials. Additionally, Bihar is also failing its children from minority groups.

Hardly 12.7% of schools in India comply with the minimum norms laid down under the RTE Act. There are wide gaps in RTE implementation between different states; ranging from 39% in Gujarat, to less than 1% in Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Lakshadweep. 70% of teachers in Meghalaya lack the required qualifications. [12]  

The RTE Act, Section 12(1)(c) envisions that schools must provide spaces for the economically weaker section of the society so that children from different backgrounds have equal opportunities and that will help build a more equal society. Studies show that giving opportunities to students from different economic backgrounds, makes student more social, generous and egalitarian, and they are less likely to discriminate against poor children. But instead, private schools create hurdles for children with disabilities and those from marginalised communities to avoid their enrolment. 

India’s government spending on education has stayed below 4%, despite successive governments’ electoral commitment to spend 6% of its GDP on education. The government discriminates in the allocation of the education budget. For instance, in government-run Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya Schools, government spending is roughly around Rs. 27,000 and Rs. 85,000 per student, respectively. However, the spending in regular government schools is just over Rs. 3000 per student per year. [13]  Without equitable investment in public schools, inclusive education cannot be achieved. This one of a kind satellite school in East Delhi imparts education with no desks, walls, or chairs.

The inefficient implementation of the RTE Act, is a classic example of the gaps between policy and its implementation. There are limited efforts in building awareness of the provisions of the act, the need of such an Act; among those on the ground responsible for its implementation and those for whom the Act is. [14]  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7WspAXyK5Y Is the government spending enough on education? Our Social Policy Researcher, Kumar Rajesh explains the reality behind the government’s claim of spending 4% of the GDP on education.

Privatization of education in India

In light of the gap left by the government in the education system in India, private schools are growing in huge numbers. However, the increasing rise in private schools is socially segregating children of rich and poor families in India. Financially better off families send their children to private schools, with better facilities and smaller classes, thus widening the economic and social gap in an already unequal society. 

Between 2010-11 and 2015-16, the number of students enrolling in government schools across 20 states fell by 13 million, while 17.5 million new students joined private schools. [15]  Private schools are further unregulated and many of them do not meet the basic standards of infrastructure, safety, and quality of education. However, the condition of public schools is forcing even the poor families in India to enroll their children in private schools, leading to huge financial burden on families. Thus, rendering education in India a privilege, instead of rendering by class and caste.

Even though, the enrolment in government schools is declining they remain the main provider of elementary education in India, accounting for 73.1% elementary school and 58.6% of the total enrolment. [16] India still needs to universalize its education system, by providing better quality public education institutes.

What are the problems in the education system in India [17]

• Lack of a clear definition of an out of school child is a grave concern. Without a clear definition to identify when a child stops going to school and becomes a drop-out, it is difficult to enroll and retain children in school.
• There is ambiguity about specific roles the School Management Committee (SMCs) have to play. The SMCs are not aware of their responsibilities or the members themselves do not know that they are a part of the SMC. A research by a leading non-profit Pratham based in Delhi in 2013 found that only 10 per cent of the SMC parent members interviewed were aware that they were part of the SMCs. [18]
• The SMCs have the mandate to prepare School Development Plans (SDPs), but this is hardly followed in practice. Capacity building programmes for SMCs, to enable them to follow their mandates are not being implemented thus affecting their functioning. [19]
• The RTE Act implies to both public and private schools, but its implementation in private school remains weak. Private schools are on the rise, and they deliberately omit the rule of the RTE, while most government schools struggle to implement because of lack of resources.
• The RTE Act provides for a mechanism to ensure the availability of qualified teachers by setting up teacher training institutions. Some states have completely omitted the provision to set up training institutes.

[9] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Davos%20India%20Supplement.pdf

[10] https://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/upload_document/National-Survey-Estimation-School-Children-Draft-Report.pdf (2014) - pg 9

[11] Federalism and Fidelity – RTE Review (2014) – Oxfam India

[12] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Davos%20India%20Supplement.pdf

[13] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/Government-spends-Rs-85000-on-each-Navodaya-student-annually/articleshow/47754083.cms (2015)

[14] Federalism and Fidelity – RTE Review (2014) – Oxfam India

[15] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Davos%20India%20Supplement.pdf – pg 4

[16] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Davos%20India%20Supplement.pdf – pg 4

[17] Federalism and Fidelity – RTE Review (2014) – Oxfam India

[18] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/OIA-Community-Based-Monitoring-and-Grievance-Redressal-in-Schools-in-Delhi-1012-2015-en.pdf - Policy Brief - Community-Based Monitoring and Grievance Redressal in Schools in Delhi

[19] http://rteforumindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Year-9-Stocktaking-Report-RTE-Forum-draft.pdf

There are several schemes and programmes implemented by the Government of India to ensure child education in India. On 22 January 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, to “change mindsets regarding the girl child”. The campaign was launch with an aim to raise awareness about the declining sex-ratio in India and the importance of girl child education.

Other government schemes for girl child education provide financial support to parents to educate their daughters. Some of these schemes are Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY), and Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana (MRY). These schemes provide benefits such as higher interest rates, direct financial support, and tax benefits to parents for investing in education of their girl child.

Even though some reports have shown increasing enrollment of the girl child, there are still several hurdles in girl child education in India. The World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Study in Uttar Pradesh has shown increased girl child education in private schools over the years. The first data collection was done in 1997-98. The same set of households were surveyed in 2007-08 and then again in 2010-11. Enrolment rate of girls was only 50% as per the first survey. This showed significant improvement, with 65% enrolment in 2007-08 and 72% by 2010-11. [20]

Problem in Girl Child Education [21]

Financial constraints.

Financial restrictions create hurdles for many parents in educating the girl child. Usually, she is forced to stay at home to carry out household chores and take care of her younger siblings while the son in the family is sent to school. Even if some parents wish to educate their girl child, lack of quality schools or other social factors create restrictions.

Household Responsibilities

Many girls are forced to drop out of school because of household responsibilities. Losing a parent or a sick family members forces young girls to take up household chores. Social norms dictate that it is a woman’s duty to do domestic work or take care of sick family members. 12-year-old Meena from Uttar Pradesh, was pulled out of school to take care of household chores and her young siblings.

Early and Forced Marriages

Our society’s obsession with marriage has ruined many lives. Girls are denied education and instead forced to marry at an early age, often before she has attains the physical and emotional maturity to even understand what marriage is. Due to lack of education she cannot make an informed decision of whether she indeed wishes to marry or not, and has no say in choosing the person she is forced to spend her entire life with. Additionally, the later a girl marries, the more the dowry her parents are forced to pay.

Preference of sons over daughters

Son preference further creates problems for a girl child. The  deep-set social norm that sons will take care of the parents in their old age, while girls will have to get married and leave the parents house leads to a lot of preferential treatment to the sons and subsequently, discrimination against the girl child from a very young age. This then leads to parents not giving any importance to the education of the girl child. 

Lack of functional toilets

Lack of basic facilities such as funtional toilets and hand washing areas force children to stay out of school. Girls are especially affected due to lack of functional toiliets once they reach menstruation age. They may be either be absent from school on a regular basis, or drop out of school altogether. 

Long Distance to School

In rural areas, children have to walk, often alone, through forests, rivers, or deserted areas, and cover a long distance to school. Due to increased risk of violence against girls, parents prefer their daughters stay safe at home. Devyani was pulled out of school because she had to walk alone to school, but with Oxfam India’s support she was enrolled back in school.

[20] https://www.isid.ac.in/~soham9r/doc/pvt_paper.pdf - Intra-Household Gender Disparity in School Choice: Evidence from Private Schooling in India – Soham Sahoo, July 2015

[21] https://donate.oxfamindia.org/girl-child-education

[22] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/PN-OIN-ES-Education-07-CSA-Efforts-Effective-Implementation-RTE-EN.pdf

In this chapter we will learn the role civil society plays in the education sector, and how its actions impact the implementation of education policies around the world.

What is a civil society organisation

There is no one clear definition of a civil society organisation (CSO). It is defined in different ways by different organisations. 

A paper by World Health Organisation states that in the absence of a common defination, civil society is usually understood as the social arena existing between the state and the individial or household. It states that the civil sociey lacks regulatory power of the state and the economic power of the market but it provides social power to the ordinary people.

What is the role of civil society

Recently, CSOs have become more prominent across the world. They are growing in number and influence around the world. CSOs play a vital role in the development sector, by asserting the rights of the marginalised communities. Civil society organisations holds the government accountable and ensure their compliance with human rights and international treating and conventions. Oxfam India is one such organisation which mobilizes people and builds movement against discrimination .

On the other hand, governments and institutions around the world have become more motivated in response to the increasing influence of CSOs, to establish a formal mechanism of working with the CSOs.

What is the role of civil society in the education section

Civil society organisations has played an active role in the education sector. CSOs have raised issues ranging from implementation to advocacy. Civil society has brought about significant changes to national education policies and system, through advocacy, across the world, ensuring that the right to education is granted to each person. 

By holding the government accountable, civil society organisations ensures that each individual has equal access to essential services and they can raise their voice against violations of their rights.

What is the role of civil society in education in India

Civil society organisations in India have been playing a crucial role, since more than a decade. They are strengthening the education system in India by actively participating in advocacy, at the national, regional and internation levels in the education sector. There is an increasing collaboration between national, regional, and international CSO, through the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) and Education for All moverment. 

NGOs like Oxfam India campaigns for quality and free public education for all, with a network of other civil society organisations, think tanks, policy makers, parents, and teachers. 

Oxfam India is building a movement of people working to end discrimination and create a free and just society.

Oxfam India is building a movement of Indians coming together to fight discrimination. We stand for the rights of the marginalized such as Adivasis, Dalits, and Muslims, with a special focus on women and girls. We work with the public and policymakers to find lasting solutions to build an inclusive and just India where everyone can have equal access to rights, be safe, get quality education and healthcare, make their voices heard and thrive. We campaign and mobilize people to stand up and speak out, to demand decisions and policies from the government that help them fight inequality and discrimination in India. We save, protect and rebuild lives in times of crisis and humanitarian disasters.

Oxfam India changed the lives of over 1 million people across six poorest states* in India last year and campaigned to reach out to tens of millions more across the country. 

We put the rights of the marginalized at the heart of everything we do, as this will lead to the lasting change we need. Together, we can create a discrimination free India where everyone can live with dignity and free from inequality and injustice. 

Joins us as we fight discrimination today, to end it for good.

(* Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh)

Why we are here

Discrimination in India has been a social evil for ages. It has affected millions of lives in the past and continues to affect people basis their gender, caste, and economic background. 

Everyone has the right to safety, education, health, shelter, food, and water, and people should not have to fight for these rights every day. 

There are millions who are deprived of basic fundamental rights and Oxfam India champions their right to be heard.

With Oxfam India’s efforts, communities live safer lives; have access to health and education, clean water, food, sanitation, and other fundamental needs.   

Oxfam India strives for an inclusive and just society.

How we make it happen

Oxfam India helps people fight discrimination on four fronts. 

• Working with Marginalized communities: We work at the grassroots to generate awareness amongst the most marginalized communities such as Adivasis, Dalit and Muslims to stand up and speak out, to demand their rights and policies that help them fight discrimination and injustice. We work with the most vulnerable people with a special focus on women and girls.
• Public Campaign & Policy making: We work with the public and policy makers to find lasting solutions to build a just and discrimination free India where everyone can have an equal access to rights, be safe, get an education, quality healthcare, make their voices heard and thrive, irrespective of their caste, gender and economic background.
• Humanitarian Response: We save, protect and rebuild lives in times of crisis and humanitarian disasters.

Our commitment

We are committed to the people, both of who we work with and our supporters.

Oxfam India believes in the power of people coming together for justice and against discrimination.

In our 68-year history, we have seen that, when people join hands, raise their voice and demand action, change happens. We are committed to the power of people to fight discrimination and help marginalized communities pull themselves out of inequality and injustice. This is why our work and organization are based in the communities who are most affected in the six poorest states of India so that we can deliver change quickly and with impact.

Oxfam India uniquely combines the power of the public and the learnings from grassroots with the strength of supporters, partners, and allies to make a positive impact in the lives of millions of people. 

From supporting women farmers in Bihar to demanding good quality education for children in Uttar Pradesh, from mobilizing public support in Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad to delivering life-saving aid in Assam and Manipur, we strive to ensure that the most marginalized people are heard.

And we won’t stop until everyone in India can live a life of dignity free from discrimination. 

Our vision for the future

Our vision is a just and discrimination free India. Oxfam India will always be there in times of crisis and injustice to fight the inequalities and discrimination affecting the lives of millions of Indians. 

Over the next five years, we will help many more people of socially excluded groups (Dalit, Adivasis and Muslims), and especially women in ‘Oxfam India focus states’ exercise their rights of citizenship and live a life of dignity, free from discrimination.

And we cannot do it without your support. We need more voices to join us in speaking truth to power so that we can influence the policies and attitudes that will fight discrimination across the nation. 

As India’s leading movement against discrimination, we will not rest until everyone in our country can live in a fairer, equal society, and leave injustice and discrimination behind forever.

In this chapter, we will explore how Oxfam India support girl child education in India and the impact we have created in the last year.

Oxfam India’s role in education

Oxfam India is working to achieve the goal of quality and affordable education for each child in India. We campaign for the right to education of people from the most marginalised communities, especially the girl child.

Gudiya had to discontinue her education after her parents migrated to Delhi from Assam. After Oxfam India’s intervention she was brought at par with regular students and is now on her way to be admitted in a government school in New Delhi.

We advocate for the proper implementation of the Right to Education Act. Oxfam India is the founding member of the National RTE Forum. The forum has almost 10,000 non-government organisations members. The National RTE Forum has been one of the biggest achievements of Oxfam India, in the education sector. The forum brings together like minded groups and people working towards the common goal of inclusive education in India. The forum ensures that different groups work together and learn and support each other. [23]  

Activities undertaken by Oxfam India [24]

Social mobilisation .

Oxfam India works with grass root organisations and initiates debates and dialogues, with teachers, intellectuals, educationist, and the general public on various issues related to the state of education in India. Oxfam India engages with youth on ‘Inequality in Education’ .

We sensitise people from various sections of the society on the right to education, status of RTE, and advocate for the right of the education for children up to 18 years of age. We deploy media channels, form support groups inside the Parliament and among policy makers at both the centre and state level. 

Campaign for Policy Changes

We campaign for stricter regulation of private schools and ensure that 25% reservation for children from economically weaker sections and marginalised groups is implemented. We campaign against all forms of privatization of education in India to ensure that education is a treated as a fundamental right and not a privilege. Oxfam India holds consulations on Right to Education with other civil society organisation in its focus states.

Effective implementation

Oxfam India works with the School Management Committees (SMCs) and local authorities, to ensure effective implementation of the RTE Act. We also work with community members to raise awareness about the issues of marginalised groups, especially the problems of girl child education to ensure fulfilment of the RTE Act’s goal.

Accountability

Oxfam India strives to ensure the government is held accountable for the gaps in the implementation of the RTE, through careful study of the policy and its implementation. We also suggest recommendations for better implementation of the Act.

Oxfam India’s impact

Impact in bihar.

Oxfam India along with its partners, Dalit Vikas Abhiyan Samiti (DVAS) is working towards ending caste based discrimination in schools in Bihar and creating awareness about the value of education among marginalised communities. The Musahar community in Samastipur district of Bihar, is especially discriminated against. Their children are put in separate classrooms and the teachers hardly teach them. Teachers and upper caste students hold the bias that they are “dirty” and “pollute the environment of the school”. Oxfam India and DVAS work towards changing these attitudes. After a series of meetings in 2018 Oxfam India and DVAS managed to push the school administration to let children from the community eat their mid-day meals with other students. The Musahar families consider this an important milestone and say it’s a “big change” they have seen in years. [25]  

Impact in Delhi

When a study by Pratham revealed in 2013 that only 10% of the SMC parent members interviewed were aware that they were part of the SMC, Oxfam India and its partner JOSH (Joint Operation for Social Help) filed a complaint at the Central Information Commission (CIC)in 2011 evoking the Section 4 of the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005. Section 4 of the RTI Act is a proactive disclosure section mandating all public authorities to share information with citizens about their functioning. Since the school is a public authority, compliance to Section 4 was demanded. [26]   Read More about Oxfam India's work on Education in Delhi.

Impact in Jharkhand

Students were irregular in schools in Kolpotka village, Jharkhand. One of the reasons behind this was that they were taught in Hindi. Coming from the Munda tribe, speaking a different language, they could not grasp what was being taught. To raise interest of the students, Oxfam India and its partner Society for Participatory Action and Reflection (SPAR) introduced Multi Lingual Education (MLE) in the schools and appointed part-time teachers in April 2015, who took training in the tribal language. This helped students enrol back in school who had dropped out. The SMC too played a crucial role in getting children back to school. [27]   Read More about Oxfam India's work on Education in Jharkhand.

                                             Part-time teacher appointed by SPAR taking a class at Kolpotka village in                                             West Singhbhum's Manoharpur block.

Impact in odisha.

Odisha has a high percentage of out-of-school children between six and fourteen years of age. One of the key reasons for high dropout rates is the language barrier in the Adivasi belts of the state. Most children in the Adivasi dominated areas have inadequate exposure to Odia, the main medium of teaching. In order to ensure access to quality, universal and inclusive elementary education, Oxfam India along with Sikshasandhan, an NGO based in Odisha, initiated Project Birsa in 2011. As part of the project, Sikshasandhan appointed teachers who could teach in the tribal languages. Eventually, school attendance increased in the Birsa focused schools. [28]   Read More about Oxfam India's work on Education in Odisha.

Books in Odia and Ho made available, by Oxfam India and Sikshasandhan, to students of the 11 primary schools in Noto Gram Panchayat in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.

Impact in uttar pradesh.

In 2016-17 Oxfam India and its partner, Lokmitra, identified 63 out-of-school children from marginalised sections and provided supportive classes. These classes ran for four months. 27 of these children were mainstreamed into formal schools. [29]   Read More about Oxfam India's work on Education in Uttar Pradesh.

Oxfam India and Samarth Foundation introduced sports and extracurricular activities in five schools in 2016, to encourage more children to go to school. Initially, parents were hesitant to allow their daughters to follow sports, they had to be convinced. Eventually, more girls started enrolling in schools. They even train along with boys and outperform them. [30] Read More how girls are outperforming boys in sports.

Oxfam India’s Role in Girl Child Education

In 2018, 7,048 boys and 6,003 girls from our focus areas received quality education. 136 schools and 117 Anagwadi centres were made functional. 440 School Management Committees (SMCs) were made functional in Primary and Upper Primary Schools. When you support Oxfam India’s work, you help end Inequality in education and empower children to become future leaders and change-makers of our country. In just one year, Oxfam India benefited over 13,000 children. People like you make it possible for us to help the most marginlised children and empower girl child education. Visit our story section to know about the children we helped.

When girls stay in school, they are more likely to build an educated and healthier family, earn a better living, and contribute to the development of the society. Oxfam India, NGO for girl child education, aims to bring back girls missing from the classrooms of India and empower them through education. Our young girls leaders are leading the fight for education in India.

How Oxfam India and its supporters sent Rani back to school

Rani, a 16-year-old girl from Raebareli, was compelled to drop out of school after class 7 due to poverty and household responsibilities. But support from our donors sent Rani back to school.

After dropping out of school, she spent all her time in household chores. She woke up at 5 am every day to start household chores. In order to fetch water, she had to go multiple times to a handpump, a little away from her house. She then used to clean the house, wash utensils, feed the buffaloes nearby and prepare breakfast for the entire family.

Her father Harilal is a woodcutter and her mother Sona is a housewife. Rani has three sisters and all have dropped out of school. Her eldest sister is the most educated in the family. She studied till 10th standard before she was married.

But Rani did not let her passion for studies die. Support from our donors sent Rani back to school. Supporters like you helped us and our grassroots partner in Raebareli build a Kishori Shiksha Kendra, an educational training institute for girls, near Rani’s village. Today, Rani is studying and is on her path to follow her passion. “I want to become a teacher and encourage children to attend school and fulfil their dreams.” says Rani. Read more about Rani and her journey back to school.

There are many girls like Rani who are currently outside the education system in India. Socio-economic circumstances force them to leave schools, work at home and at times, as child labours. Often, they are forced to get married at an early age and raise a family.

Oxfam India has been fighting for the implementation of the Right to Education Act in India. 

Oxfam India also advocates for the importance of right to education and aims to change regressive social norms to end discrimination. Deepti, a primary school teacher in our partner’s school keeps paretns motivated to educate their children.

But not every girl is as lucky as Rani. Each girl deserves the chance to fulfil her dreams. We must understand the importance of educating a girl child. Education is the first step to reduce poverty and inequality in any society. 

Educating a girl child helps her develop the ability to make informed decisions, join the work force, overcome poverty, and benefit her community at large, thus contributing to the development of our nation. Importance of girl child education has been observed in several studies. Girl child education has a significant impact on her own child’s development. Many studies indicate that educated women have healthier children, lower child mortality, and impart better education to their children, thus overcoming inequality. [31] These young warriors are the perfect example for fighting inequality through education.

[23] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/PN-OIN-ES-Education-07-CSA-Efforts-Effective-Implementation-RTE-EN.pdf [24] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/PN-OIN-ES-Education-07-CSA-Efforts-Effective-Implementation-RTE-EN.pdf [25] https://www.oxfamindia.org/blog/failed-education-priorities-bihar-government [26] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/OIA-Community-Based-Monitoring-and-Grievance-Redressal-in-Schools-in-Delhi-1012-2015-en.pdf [27] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/OIA-Mobilising-Civil-Society-towards-Right-to-Free-Public-Health-and-Education-in-Jharkhand-14052016-EN.pdf [28] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/Oxfam-in-Action-Promoting-Multi-Lingual-Education-in-Odisha%E2%80%99s-Adivasi-belt-080915-EN.pdf

[29] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/PN_LOKMITRA%20hi-res.pdf

[30] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/samarth.pdf

This chapter will help you understand why you should donate to Oxfam India and the benefits you receive.

How Your Donation Will Change Lives

Your immediate support will help oxfam india .

• Identify out-of-school children
• Provide support to children, especially girls to enrol in school
• Help reduce discrimination in education
• Raise awareness among girls about their rights
• Encourage parents to educate girls 
• Overcome social norms which restrict girl child education
• Urge the government to increase spending on government schools

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhJT_5pCxqU Donate for girl child education in India

Why monthly donation matters

Your monthly donation for girl child education ensures continuous and consistent support for hundreds of girls from marginalised communities. Without which, it will be difficult for Oxfam India to plan a long-term, sustainable programme to support girl child education. It is a small amount for you and a life-line for us at Oxfam India and thousands of children. Through your urgent support, you can help enrol thousands of girls in India who continue to live in poverty and are deprived of their rights. The amount you invest every month will help a child learn, grow and build a better life for themselves and their future generations.

Oxfam India works with children from the top 5 poorest states of India. Nandini’s parents, from Bihar, believed that girl child education is a waste of money. But after attending Oxfam India’s workshop, they now encourage other parents to educate their daughters too!

Your generous donation for education in India will enable children to achieve their dreams and transform our nation.

What’s in it for you

• When you support Oxfam India’s work, you make a difference by helping a child study and contribute to our nation’s development
• You will receive monthly updates from us about the lives you are transforming 
• You will also receive an audited annual report from Oxfam India for fund transparency and work accountability.
• Your donation also helps you in saving tax. We will provide you with Tax exemption certificate, 80G, to claim your tax.

If you wish to cancel your donation at any time, we are just an email away. Write to us at [email protected]

Help us build a nation where every girl child is in school. Bring girls back to school so they can build a better future and an empowered nation.

References:

• https://examplanning.com/types-education-formal-informal-non-formal/
• https://www.pearson.com/corporate/about-pearson/the-importance-of-education.html
• https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-weaknesses-of-non-formal-education
• http://www.studylecturenotes.com/foundation-of-education/non-formal-education-nfe
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310920/
• https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-disadvantages-of-informal-education
• https://en.unesco.org/themes/early-childhood-care-and-education
• https://www.early-childhood-education-degrees.com/what-is-early-childhood-education/
• https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/importance-of-early-childhood-education/

[31] https://www.firstpost.com/india/indias-female-literacy-has-gone-up-but-still-22-percentage-points-behind-world-average-education-among-young-women-rising-7197631.html

The Girl Child Education and Sustainable Development in Africa

• First Online: 27 October 2022

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• Ayo Ayoola-Amale 9 , 10  

Part of the book series: Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development ((AAESPD))

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Gender equality demonstrates the moral, ethical, and real reasons why greater gender equality is very essential to sustainable development.

Gender equality is indispensable for sustainable development in Africa considering the fact that education decreases poverty in all its forms (SDG no. 1), ends hunger through reaching food security (SDG no. 2); Quality education for girls, reduces fertility rates and therefore slows down population explosion; lowers infant and maternal mortality rates and improves health and nutrition and well-being of families (SDG no. 3). Educated mothers ensure better prospects of education for their children (SDG no. 4).

The apparent gap and imbalance between the boy child and the girl child is attributed to patriarchy, lack of quality education, poverty and gender disparities, and consequently, the differences in access to human, financial, and social capital.

The socio-economic marginalization of girls and women resulting from gender inequalities, lack of access to education, and if at all, lack of quality education result in poverty, poor standards of living, diminished career choices, unequal salaries, and economic exclusion. It is very essential for governments and their leaders to invest in girl-child education for sustainable development in Africa.

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Further Reading

AfDB (2014) Gender strategy: investing in gender equality for Africa’s transformation. www.afdb.org . Accessed 18 Mar 2016

African Gender Index (2015) Empowering African women: an agenda for action. www.afdb.org . Accessed 13 Mar 2016

Carter JA (2012) The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. JRio+20: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, June 2012. US Congressional Research Service

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European Parliament Report (2016) Women’s empowerment and its links to sustainable development. www.europarl.europa.eu . Accessed 22 Mar 2016

Johnsson-Latham G (2007) A study on gender Equality as a prerequisite for sustainable development. Report to the Environment Advisory Council, Sweden. www.atria.nl/publications

OECD (2008) Gender and sustainable development: maximizing the economic, social and environmental role of women. www.oecd.org . Accessed 15 Mar 2016

Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues (OSAGI) (2001) Important concepts underlining gender mainstreaming. www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi . Accessed 22 Mar 2016

Ojalammi S (2010) Gender and development in Sub- Saharan Africa. European Regional Development Fund. www.winnet8.euget/file . Accessed 17 Mar 2016

Sharma M (2016) Women education: need for sustainable development. Global J Hum Soc Sci C Sociol Cult 16(1):22–25

Stevens C (2009) Drat Report. Green jobs and women workers: employment, Equity and Equality. www.sustainlabour.org . Accessed 16 Mar 2016

Stevens C (2010) Are women the key to sustainable development? Sustainable Development Insights. www.bu.edu/pardee . Accessed 16 Mar 2016

Tchouassi T (2012) Does gender equality work for sustainable development in Central African countries? Some empirical lessons. Eur J Sustain Dev 1(3):383–398

Article   Google Scholar  

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2013). Powerful synergies: gender equality, economic development and environmental sustainability. www.udp.orgon . Accessed 19 Mar 2016

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2012) Empowering women for sustainable development. www.unece.org . Accessed 22 Mar 2016

UN-Women (2014) World survey on the role of women in development: gender equality and sustainable development. www.unwomen.org . Accessed 23 Mar 2016

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Ghana (WILPF Ghana), Girls’ Education Campaign (2010–) www.wilpf.org , http://www.wilpfghana.org , www.facebook.com/WILPFGhanaSection

World Bank Report (2001) Engendering development through gender equality in rights, resources, and voice. www.worldbank.org . Accessed 22 Mar 2016

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Ayoola-Amale, A. (2022). The Girl Child Education and Sustainable Development in Africa. In: Spiegel, E., Mutalemwa, G., Liu, C., Kurtz, L.R. (eds) Peace Studies for Sustainable Development in Africa. Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92474-4_22

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Essay on Save Girl Child for Children and Students

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Save girl child is an awareness campaign to save the girl child in India by ensuring their safety as well as to stop the crime against girl child especially female foeticide and gender inequality. Essay on Save Girl Child for Children and Students.

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Long and Short Essay on Save Girl Child in English

Women are the most important section of the society and equally participate in the life existence on the earth. However, regular decrease in the sex ratio of female in India because of the crimes against women, it has created the fear of total finish of women. So, it is very necessary to save girl child in order to maintain the ratio of women in India.

It has been a most important topic as a social awareness in the Indian society which youths of the country must know about. In order to enhance the writing skill and knowledge of the students, teachers assign them this topic to write only paragraph or complete essay in the classroom, during exam or any competition organized for the essay writing.

Following essay on save girl child are especially written for the students. They can choose any save girl child essay according to their need and requirement:

Save Girl Child Essay 1 (100 words)

Girls are equally as important as boys in the society to maintain the social equilibrium. Few years ago, there was huge reduction in the number of women in comparison to the man. It was so because of the increasing crimes against women such as female foeticide, dowry deaths, rape, poverty, illiteracy, gender discrimination and many more. To equalize the number of women in the society, it is very necessary to aware people greatly about the save girl child. Government of India has taken some positive steps regarding save girl child such as protection of women from domestic violence act 2005, ban of female infanticide, immoral traffic (prevention) act, proper education, gender equality, etc.

Save Girl Child Essay 2 (150 words)

Save girl child topic has been the focus of attention of everyone all over the India in order to improve the overall social and economic status of women. Following are some initiatives launched by the central or state government regarding save girl child:

• In order to protect the girl child, a Ladli Scheme was launched and implemented by the Delhi & Haryana Government in 2008. The aim of this scheme was controlling female foeticide as well as improving status of girl child through education and equal gender rights.
• Sabla Scheme launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2011 aiming to empower adolescent girls through education.
• Dhanalakshmi Scheme was launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development aiming to provide cash transfer to the family of girl child after birth, registration, and immunization.
• Kishori Shakti Yojna was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development aiming to improve nutritional and health condition of adolescent girls.
• Sukanya Samridhi Yojana was launched to ensure equitable share to a girl child by the family.
• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (means save girl child and educate girl child) scheme was launched in 2015 for the welfare of women.

Save Girl Child Essay 3 (200 words)

Save girl child is a most important social awareness topic now-a-days regarding the saving of girl child all through the country. There are various effective measures following which girl child can be saved to a great extent.

Essay on Save Girl Child for Children and Students.

Education is deeply linked to the employment. Low education means low employment which leads to the poverty and gender inequality in the society. Education is the most effective step forward to improve women status as it makes them financially independent. Save girl child step is taken by the government to ensure the equal rights and opportunities for women in the society. Bollywood actor (Parineeti Chopra) has been an official brand ambassador of the recent scheme of PM for save girl child (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao).

Save Girl Child Essay 4 (250 words)

Introduction

The status of girls in the Indian society has been greatly debated for many years. Girls are generally believed to be involved in the cooking and playing with dolls while boys to be involved in the education and other physical activities from the ancient time. Such old beliefs of men have simulated them for violence against women which resulted in the continuous decrease in the number of girl child in the society. So, there is a big need to save girl child in order to equalize the ratio of both as well ensure the development of country.

Effective Steps regarding Save Girl Child

Following are the various effective steps to save girl child:

• The position of girl child in Indian society is backward since ages because of the extreme desire of parents for the boy-child. It has created gender inequality in the society and has been very necessary to remove by bringing gender equality.
• Extreme poverty in the society has created social evil against women as dowry system which worsens the situation of women. Parents generally think that girls are only to spend money that’s why they kill girl child before or after birth in many ways (female infanticide, dowry deaths, etc). Such issues need to be removed urgently in order to save girl child.
• Illiteracy is another issue which can be removed through proper education system for both genders.
• Empowering women is the most effective tool to save girl child.
• People should be aware through some effective campaigns regarding save the girl child.
• A girl child is unsafe inside as well as outside the mother’s womb. She has fear in many ways all through the life with the men whom she gives birth. She is ruled by the men whom she gives birth and it is totally the matter of laugh and shame for us. Education is the best tool to bring revolution of saving and respecting a girl child.
• A girl child should be given equal access and opportunities in every field.
• There should be safety and security arrangement for girls at all the public places.
• Family members of a girl child can be better target to make save the girl child campaign successful.

Save girl child is not taken by the people as topic only, it is a social awareness which should be taken very seriously. People should save girl child and respect girl child as they have power to create a whole world. They are equally needed for the growth and development of any country.

Save Girl Child Essay 5 (300 words)

Girls have been the victim of many crimes in India for years. The most fearful crime was female foeticide in which girls were killed in the womb of mother after sex determination through ultrasound. Save the girl child campaign has been launched by the government to end the gender-selective abortions of female fetus as well as other crimes against girl child.

Effects of Female Foeticide on Girl Child Ratio Reduction

Female foeticide was one of the most fearful acts through sex-selective abortion in the hospital. It was developed in India by the people’s more interest in the boy child than the female child. It has reduced the girl child sex ratio in India to a great extent. Female Foeticide made possible in the country because of the Ultrasound technology. It took a form of giant demon because of the gender discrimination and inequality for girls in the society.

A huge reduction in the female sex ratio was noticed after the national census of 1991. Then it was declared as a worsening problem of the society after the national census of 2001. However, reduction in female population was continued till 2011. Later, this practice was banned strictly by the government in order to control the ratio of female child.

In Madhya Pradesh, the ratio was 932 girls/1000 boys in 2001 however reduced to 912/1000 in 2011. It means, it still continues somewhere and may be it reduced to 900/1000 by 2021. Essay on Save Girl Child for Children and Students.

Role of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao awareness Campaign

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is a scheme which means save the girl child and educate the girl child. This scheme was launched by the Government of India on 22 January 2015 to create awareness for the girl child. This campaign was started by organizing some activities such as big rallies, wall painting, television commercials, billboards, short animations, video films, essay writing, debates etc. to make more and more people aware of the society. It also involved some famous celebrities for more awareness. This campaign is supported by the various government and non-government organizations in India. This scheme has played a great role in spreading awareness regarding save girl child all over the county as well as improving the status of girl child in the Indian society.

Each and every citizen of the India must follow all the rules and regulations made for saving the girl child as well as improving the position in the society. Girls should be considered as equal as boys by their parents and given same opportunities in all the working areas. Essay on Save Girl Child for Children and Students.

Save Girl Child Essay 6 (400 words)

The existence of human race on the earth is impossible without the equal participation of both, man and woman.

So, girl children are not killed, they should be saved, respected and given equal opportunities to go ahead. They are the source of root creation and help in shaping destiny of civilization. However, women have been the victim of female foeticide, rape, sexual harassment, dowry deaths, etc in her own shaped civilization. How shame is this!

Why to Save Girl Child

A girl child should be saved by people in the society for various reasons:

• They are not less capable than boys in any field and give their best.
• Female foeticide is illegal crime since 1961 and has been banned in order to stop sex-selective abortions. People should follow all the rules very strictly made to save girl child.
• Girls become more obedient than boys and have been proved less violent and arrogant.
• They have been proved much responsible for their family, job, society or country.
• They become much caring to their parents and devoted to their job.
• A woman can be a mother, wife, daughter, sister, etc. Every man should think that his wife is daughter of another man and his daughter would be a wife of another man in future. So, everyone must respect a woman in any form.
• A girl performs her both duties personal as well as professional very loyally which makes her extra special than boys.
• Girls are the ultimate reason of existence of human race.

Steps taken by Government to Save Girl Child

There are various steps taken by the Indian government regarding save the girl child and educate the girl child. The most recent initiative regarding this is Beti Bachao Beti Padhao which is very actively supported by the government, NGOs, corporate groups and human rights activists. Various social organizations have helped the campaign by building toilet at girl schools. Crimes against girl child and women are big obstruction in the way of India’s growth and development. Government has taken this step to let people know that a girl child is not a sin in the society however; she is a nice gift by God.

A girl child should not be killed, hated or disrespected. She should be saved, loved and respected for the betterment of society and country. She is as equal participant in the development of country as boys.

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Essay on Girl Education for Students and Children

500+ words essay on girl education.

If we look at the demographics, India is one of the most populated countries. However, the rate of girl education is quite low in the country. It is quite troubling to see the figures in a country where women are given the status of goddesses. The figures have significantly improved to an extent but there’s still a long way to go.

Women were not allowed to even step out of their houses in ancient India , but times are changing. Along with changing times, people’s thinking is also changing. They wish to educate their girls and see them succeed in life. However, this is not the case in rural India which makes for more than 60% of the population. We need to identify the factors responsible for such low rates of girl education to find some solutions.

Factors Contributing to Low Rate of Girl Education

There are various factors that make it impossible for girls to get an education in our country. Firstly, the poverty rate is alarming. Even though education is being made free, it still involves a substantial cost to send girls to school. Therefore, families who are struggling to make ends meet fail to pay the educational expenses of their children.

Secondly, in rural areas, there aren’t many schools. This creates a distance problem as they are located far from the villages. In some areas, students have to walk for three to four hours to reach their school. This is where the safety of the girls gets compromised so parents don’t see it fit to send them off so far.

Furthermore, the regressive thinking of the people makes it tougher for girls to get an education. Some people still believe girls are meant to stay in their houses and look after the kitchen. They do not like women to do any other tasks expect for household ones.

Other than that, social issues like child marriage and child labor also stop the girl from getting an education. Parents pull daughters out of school to marry them off at an early age. Also, when girls indulge in child labor, they do not get time to study.

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Benefits of Girl Education

If we wish to see India progress and develop, we need to educate our girl child. They are indeed the future of our nation. Moreover, when they become educated, they will not have to be dependent on others for their livelihood.

One of the most important benefits of girl education is that the country’s future will be brighter and better. Similarly, our economy can grow faster if more and more women become financially strong thereby reducing poverty.

Furthermore, women who are educated can take proper care of their children. This will strengthen the future as lesser kids will die due to a lack of vaccination or a similar reason. Even for women, they will be less likely to become a patient of HIV/AIDS as they will be aware of the consequences.

Most importantly, educated women can result in a decrease in social issues like corruption, child marriage , domestic abuse and more. They will become more confident and handle their families better in all spheres. Thus we see how one educated woman can bring so much change in her life along with the others as well.

Some FAQs on Girl Education

Q.1 Why is girl education not encouraged in India?

A.1 India is still a developing country. It has too much poverty and regressive thinking. It is one of the main reasons why people don’t encourage girls to get an education.

Q.2 What are the advantages of educating girls?

A.2 When we educate girls, we educate a whole nation. As she teaches everyone around her. The education of girls will result in a better economy and a brighter future along with enhanced confidence of the girl.

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Essay on Save Girl Child

Students are often asked to write an essay on Save Girl Child in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Save Girl Child

Importance of saving girl child.

Saving the girl child is essential for the balance of life. Girls are as valuable as boys. They can contribute to society in the same way as boys can.

Challenges Faced

Unfortunately, girls face many challenges in society. From female foeticide to gender discrimination, these issues need to be addressed urgently.

Steps to Save Girl Child

We should spread awareness about the importance of girls. Education and laws protecting their rights can help in saving the girl child. Everyone should treat girls with respect and equality.

Saving the girl child is not just a moral duty, but a necessity for a balanced society. Let’s pledge to save and respect every girl child.

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250 Words Essay on Save Girl Child

Introduction.

The phrase “Save Girl Child” signifies the urgent need to protect and empower girls, emphasizing their fundamental rights to life, education, and equality. The campaign aims to address deep-seated societal issues like gender inequality and female infanticide, prevalent in many parts of the world.

The Importance of the Girl Child

Girls are the backbone of society, playing pivotal roles as daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers. They are no less than boys in any aspect, whether it’s academic, professional, or social life. Empowering girls can lead to a more balanced and progressive society. They can contribute to the economy, participate in governance, and lead social change.

The Threats to the Girl Child

Despite their potential, girls face numerous threats, including gender-based violence, discrimination, and limited access to education. In some cultures, preference for male children leads to female infanticide or neglect, creating a skewed gender ratio. This not only violates girls’ rights but also destabilizes societal balance.

Efforts to Save the Girl Child

Numerous initiatives worldwide aim to safeguard and uplift the girl child. Campaigns like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” in India, or global initiatives like the UN’s “Girl Up”, work towards gender equality, education for girls, and awareness against female infanticide.

To build a balanced and progressive society, we must value every girl child. By ensuring their safety, providing education, and eliminating discrimination, we can pave the way for their empowerment. The “Save Girl Child” campaign is not just a slogan, but a call to action for everyone to participate in creating a world where girls can thrive.

500 Words Essay on Save Girl Child

Introduction: the imperative of saving the girl child.

The phrase “Save Girl Child” is not just a slogan, but it is a clarion call for society to recognize the immense value and potential of the girl child. Despite significant strides in gender equality, the world is still plagued by gender-based discrimination, with its most sinister manifestation being the preference for male children. This has led to a skewed gender ratio, with millions of girls missing worldwide due to practices like female infanticide and sex-selective abortions.

The Prevalence of Gender Bias

The preference for male children is deeply rooted in patriarchal norms and socioeconomic factors. In many cultures, boys are seen as the torchbearers of family lineage and providers in old age, while girls are considered financial burdens due to dowry practices and perceived as someone else’s wealth due to marriage customs. This bias manifests in various forms, from differential access to healthcare and education to child marriage and gender-based violence.

The Consequences of Gender Imbalance

The consequences of this gender imbalance are far-reaching. It disrupts the natural sex ratio, leading to societal instability. The United Nations has warned that gender imbalance can fuel trafficking and forced marriages. Moreover, it hampers economic progress as it results in the loss of potential human capital. Half the population’s talents, skills, and abilities remain untapped when girls are not given equal opportunities.

The Power of Education

Education is a powerful tool in reversing this gender bias. It not only equips girls with skills and knowledge but also helps in changing societal attitudes. An educated girl can contribute economically to her family and society, challenging the notion of girls being a burden. Moreover, education empowers girls to make informed decisions, resist harmful practices, and advocate for their rights.

Legal Measures and Public Awareness

Legal measures are crucial in tackling practices like female infanticide and sex-selective abortions. Strict enforcement of laws, coupled with severe penalties, can act as a deterrent. However, laws alone are not enough. Public awareness campaigns play a vital role in changing mindsets. They can highlight the value of the girl child and the adverse effects of gender imbalance.

Conclusion: The Way Forward

The responsibility of saving the girl child does not lie with the government or NGOs alone. It is a collective responsibility. Each one of us can contribute in our own ways, be it by treating our daughters equally, advocating for girls’ rights, or challenging gender stereotypes. Saving the girl child is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for a balanced, progressive, and prosperous society. As the African proverb goes, “If we educate a boy, we educate an individual. But if we educate a girl, we educate a community.” Let us strive to create a world where every girl is valued, nurtured, and given the opportunity to reach her full potential.

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Peter and Emily Andre's baby name announcements amid important decision for third child

The mysterious girl hitmaker and the nhs doctor welcomed their baby daughter on 2 april.

Peter and Emily Andre are currently in a baby bubble following the arrival of their third child who came into the world on 2 April.

Whilst the loved-up couple, who are also doting parents to Amelia, ten, and Theo, seven , have shared a handful of snapshots of their new bundle of joy, Peter and Emily are yet to unveil the name of their third child.

In a post shared to Instagram on Wednesday, Peter, 51, did nonetheless reveal a sweet nickname for their newborn daughter. Alongside a sweet clip of doting dad Peter cradling his little girl, the singer referred to his tiny tot as "bubba" writing: "The love I have for our baby is one thing. The love I have for Emily is another love altogether."

He continued: "What an incredible mum she is and what a truly beautiful gift she has given us. We all love bubba so much. And she STILL has no name. Like I say at the end, 'I'm a dab hand at this………maybe.'"

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The couple have nonetheless somewhat narrowed down their choices, with a fleet of names cropping up as potential monikers. Beneath a recent Instagram post, one follower suggested Athena and Ophelia, to which the dad-of-five replied: "Athena is also in the running. Not sure how Ems feels about it but I LOVE it."

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Another suggested the moniker Charlotte, which is also on the list of choices. "Charlotte is also in the running. I like Charlie [heart emoji]," said Peter. Elsewhere, Peter agreed that Sydney was "beautiful", while the name Summer was "nice".

As the couple continue to decide on a name for their newborn, join HELLO! as we take a look at all of Emily and Peter's baby name announcements.

Lovebirds Peter and Emily welcomed their first child on 7 January 2014. The couple took a while to pick a name for their newborn, with Peter announcing their chosen moniker nearly a month after their baby's arrival. Announcing the news on X (formerly known as Twitter), the TV star said: "Ok FINALLY we have a name for our beaut of a baby girl. Ems, J, P and I have decided on Amelia :)))) So lovely fans before you read it anywhere else here it is. Love ya."

Before settling on Amelia, Peter explained how the couple had narrowed it down to four traditional monikers, with Amelia being the frontrunner. During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross show, Peter said at the time: "We have four names. Maybe you can help me out actually. We had Rose. I love Rose because it's English and beautiful. Amelia, beautiful name. Elizabeth. Alexandra. So these are the four names that we've been throwing around. I love them because they are English and they are beautiful."

He continued: "The baby came three weeks early. Then we looked at each other and I said, 'We haven't got a name,' so we started calling her Rose, but she wasn't a Rose."

Emily and Peter welcomed their second child on 22 November 2016. At the time, Peter confessed that he and his wife struggled to find the right name for their child. Speaking to New! Magazine, he said: "We're nowhere near choosing a name yet, though. We have so many we like, but every time we go to say it, it doesn’t stick. I love names like Oscar and Arthur but Emily's not so keen."

After two weeks, the couple reached a decision, with Peter announcing the news on Twitter. Sharing the joyous news with his followers, he penned: "Theo it is then. Or Theodore James Andre (a) to be precise."

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