Human capital development key to combat teenage pregnancy

Jun 16, 2014

Government should put emphasis on human capital development to reduce teenage pregnancy and early marriages, the director of gender and community development at the ministry of gender, labour and social development Jane Mpagi has said.

By Francis Emorut

Government should put emphasis on human capital development to reduce teenage pregnancy and early marriages, the director of gender and community development at the ministry of gender, labour and social development Jane Mpagi has said.

She said that without addressing the issues of gender equality through human capital development, the retention of girl child in school will remain a dream.

Mpagi was addressing members of civil society organizations during the consultative meeting on including gender issues in the National Development Plan II (NDPII).

The consultative meeting was organized by Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) with the support from UN Women.
It was held at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala on Friday.

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According to Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE 2011) report the evidence of girl drop out from school indicates causes as early pregnancy 34%, poverty 28% and engagement in early sex/marriage 11%.

With the NDPI (2010-2015) coming to an end, the government has embarked on drafting the strategic direction of the second NDPII (2015-2020) for the next five years.

According to Sarah Nahalamba senior planner- population, gender and social development at National Planning Authority (NPA,) NDPII’s strategic direction is based on prioritizing key sectors with greater multiplier effect that can propel Uganda to middle income status in the next for years.

The NDPII prioritized areas include agriculture, minerals, tourism, infrastructure and human capital development. 
The NDPII is held under the theme: “Strengthening Ugandan’s competiveness for wealth creation, inclusive growth and Employment.”

Nahalamba outlined the objectives of NDPII as to enhance human capital development to execute the planned interventions, increasing stock and quality strategic infrastructure to accelerate the country’s competitiveness.

Other goals are increasing sustainable production, productivity in the identified priority growth drivers and strengthening mechanism for quality effective and efficient service delivery.

She concurred with Mpagi on the need to underscore the importance of human capital development.

“We have paid lip service to human capital development for a long time its high time government developed workable strategy now,” Nahalamba said.  

Mpagi stressed the need for the inclusion of women in tourism industry so that they work as tour operators and participate in mineral extraction as well as involving them information communication technology.

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