Education Barriers for Women and Girls in Africa

By: Lucy Yang

Discriminatory Cultural Norms

Deeply entrenched gender norms and traditional beliefs about the role of women create significant barriers to education for girls across parts of Africa from a very young age. In Mauritania, for example, many ethnic groups practice child marriage, and gender-based violence is widespread. A 2018 government survey found that almost 1 in 3 Mauritanian women aged 15-49 had received no formal education whatsoever due to firmly held biases against sending girls to school.

In countries like Somalia and Niger, studies show that when families have limited resources, parents prioritize a son's education over a daughter's if they can only afford to send one child. In Somalia's pastoralist communities, girls are still widely viewed as an economic burden on the household and expected to marry in adolescence rather than pursue education. As a result, only around 40% of Somali women can read and write, according to UNESCO estimates. Similarly, in Niger, a striking 3 out of 4 girls are married before age 18, severely limiting their access and time for schooling opportunities.

Vicious Cycle of Poverty

The vicious cycle of inter-generational poverty and lack of household income also serves as a critical obstacle preventing many African girls from accessing education. In Tanzania, for example, nearly half of adolescent girls from impoverished families drop out before completing primary school. The compounding costs of uniforms, exam fees, textbooks, supplies, and menstrual products render education unattainable for those living in extreme poverty.  

Poverty also leads to a reliance on girls' labor for domestic chores and income-generating work, leaving little time for studies. In Mozambique, girls bear almost 90% of the burden of fetching water for households, frequently causing them to miss instructional time in classrooms daily. In Guinea, a staggering 30% of adolescent girls are forced to abandon their studies due to pregnancy and early child-bearing.  

Gender-Based Violence and Lack of Safety

Gender-based violence and lack of safety in and around schools create hostile environments that lead to absenteeism, dropouts, and lasting trauma for female students across Africa. A 2021 report by UNICEF from five countries found that over 1 in 3 adolescent girls experienced sexual harassment, exploitation, emotional abuse, or physical violence perpetrated by both teachers and male peers. 

In Malawi, around 50% of adolescent girls face incidents of sexual violence while traveling to and from school, an issue compounded by a lack of adequate bathroom facilities forcing open defecation. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, severe damage to school infrastructure from conflicts causes overcrowding and a lack of privacy, with no changing rooms for girls and heightened risks of harassment.

Schools in many regions need more female teaching staff, leaving girls without mentors and role models. This problem is acute in rural areas. In Mali, only 31% of primary school teachers are women. Parents are reluctant to continue sending their daughters to school without a safe, protective environment.

Dismantling the Complex Web

Eliminating the myriad cross-cutting obstacles to universal girls' education across Africa will require robust, multilayered solutions from governments, NGOs, communities, schools, and families. Tackling root cultural biases through education campaigns, improving school regulations and safety monitoring, eliminating fees for impoverished households, and strictly enforcing children's rights laws regarding issues like child marriage are all critical components.

However, despite the considerable challenges, steady progress is being made. According to World Bank data, female enrollment rates in primary education across sub-Saharan Africa have risen from 85% in 2000 to 94% in 2020. However, continued investment, prioritization, and commitment to ensuring access to quality education for all girls are vital for the future and development of women across the continent.

Sources:

UNESCO. "Her Education, Our Future: The Plurality of Situations for Girls." Global Education Monitoring Report Fact Sheet No. 58 (2021).  

UNICEF. "Five-country Study on Classroom Violence Against Children in Africa" (2021).

UNICEF. "Girls' Education in Niger."

UN Population Fund. "Putting an End to Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa."  

World Bank. "School Enrollment, Primary, Female (% Gross) - Sub-Saharan Africa."