Join hands in girls’ education

Aug 20, 2001

Over 100 participants from across Africa and donor agencies were in Kampala last week for the launch of the Girls’ Education Movement

Over 100 participants from across Africa and donor agencies were in Kampala last week for the launch of the Girls’ Education Movement (GEM). The launch was followed by the adoption of the GEM agenda, which will be delivered by President Yoweri Museveni to the first ever UN Special Session on Children in New York next month. GEM is all embracing and actively involves girls in identifying the problems affecting their education. It recognises boys as strategic allies and partners in promoting quality education for girls on the continent in addition to seeking the advice and guidance of adults. Above all, it belongs to no particular organisation and extends beyond Africa to solicit the active participation of allies and friends. That is why all of us must join hands to ensure that its agenda is implemented. Uganda has for the last five years championed the cause of girl child education in Africa through UPE. Although the campaign has been beset by social and economic problems, government has shown the political will to promote girls’ education. GEM now provides an opportunity for everybody’s involvement in the campaign. As demonstrated during the Young People’s Parliament during the conference, children can now provide solutions to the problems affecting their education. They spoke out openly on several education issues without fear or favour. The adults must therefore join hands to address those problems. regardless of their social and economic status. Education is, as Premier Prof. Apollo Nsibambi put it at the opening of the conference, ‘a social vaccine’ and the most effective means towards social transformation. Everything must therefore be done to implement the GEM agenda.

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