GIRLS continue to face challenge in accessing quality education and it is important for both the national government and provincial governments to invest in their education.
The Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 24 (North Vangunu), Calrick Runimetu expressed this sentiment at the celebration of the International Children’s Day in Gizo on Monday 11 November.
He told the packed MSG Complex that more than half of the children who drop out of schools are girls.
MPA Runimetu added that girls continue to face barriers in many areas as boys get more attention.
“Girls face barriers to education on all fronts – from their schools, homes and communities. These barriers include inadequate sanitation facilities, families prioritising boys’ education over girls, and unsafe schools where they often face sexual violence or harassment.
“In Western Province, we also face similar challenges and it’s no different in other provinces.
“One of the best ways to ensure equitable progress for girls is by investing in their education,” he said.
The former deputy premier and finance minister said when a girl goes to school, she boosts the educational prospects of her future children and delays the age at which she gets married and thereby reduce health risks to herself and her babies during childbirth and beyond.
“Children born to a mother who can read are 50 percent more likely to survive past age five,” he said.
MPA Runimetu pointed out that to help break the vicious cycle of inequity, not only for girls but for all groups of excluded children, the province and country need disaggregated quality data on the situation of children to inform political decisions on investments in children.
“Budgets must reflect our determination to fight inequity and ensure all children have a fair chance.
“This is why I call on our Provincial Government and non-government organisations (NGOs) for fair financing for children.
“Money must be raised and spent in ways that ensure every last child has access to the quality services and social protection they need to survive, to learn and to be protected,” he said.
MPA Runimetu expressed that necessary domestic resources need to be mobilized through progressive taxation and they need to survive, learn and be protected.
“Necessary domestic resources need to be mobilized through progressive taxation, and where needed, supplemented with development aid to support the efforts of the poorest Island in invest on our children, in fact we play an important role lo future of our children.
“And, increased and improved investment in children must be accompanied by the removal of cost barriers to essential services for children,” he added.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo
