Zambia: The administration has helped in ending the marriages of ten teenaged girls. The girls have since been enrolled back into schools. The aim of the exercise is to allow the girls to have deeper and better understanding of their own lives.
The officials have shared that this was done under the Keeping Girls (KGS) in School programme in Mwense District. The officials have shared that it is important for the girls to have access to equal educational opportunities.
The officials have shared that the Mwense District Guidance and Counseling Coordinator, Richard Mwape disclosed that the girls came back to school due to the Keeping Girls in School Programme (KGS). Further, the free education policy being implemented by the government in the district also played a crucial role in bringing the children back.
He pointed out that the Keeping Girls in School (KGS) component is a part of the Girls Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) project. The project is being sponsored by the World Bank is aimed at ensuring that vulnerable girls, and those that may have dropped out of school due to pregnancy or early marriage are given an opportunity to return to school.
Officer Mwape indicated that aside from the ten girls retrieved from marriages, over 3000 girls from vulnerable families in Mwense District are benefiting from KGS support.
He added that an additional ten girls that completed grade 12 are currently on the KGS tertiary support scholarship programme in various public learning institutions.
“We are really appreciating the sponsorship as it is a great development for our district, the girl child and country at large,” he said.
Further, Mwape appreciated the government for the introduction of free education that has also given a chance to both girls and boys to get an education.
He further pointed out that the free education policy has had many learners enrolled in school, leaving a need for more classroom block space in the district.
“Many students have enrolled into school which is a good thing, so we are appealing for more classroom blocks to cushion the increasing numbers of learners,” he said.