Can you imagine if 1/2 of girls dropped out of school? Did you know that 1 in 5 girls is not in school or that 62 million girls globally are out of school? We discussed these issues and possible solutions with Vivian Onano, Youth Adviser for UN Women and an avid proponent for education for all.
Why is education even important? Why is it even an urgent issue? What are the benefits of education? For Vivian, education informs, gives a voice and confidence that is vital for building a solid foundation for success.
A1: @ElleAfrique #Education informs, gives a voice, and confidence that is vital for building a solid foundation for success. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
A1: @ElleAfrique Education equips one with the necessary tools and exposure to tackle social issues and be part of change. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
However, to be effective education needs to be creative, practical, in a conducive and supportive environment.
A2: @ElleAfrique Learning should not just be about books but also creativity and practical skills. It should be fun & engaging. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
A2: @ElleAfrique Learning depends on the available resources and how conducive & supportive the environment is. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
According to Vivian, one way to measure the quality of an educational system is through the fruits it produces!
. @Joseyphina @ElleAfrique Quality education can be measured by how the students do/thrive once they are out of the institutions. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
What about the staggering statistics that we mentioned above, how do we remedy them? What needs to be done for more girls to be able to attend schools?
A3: @ElleAfrique There has to be intentional & sustainable investment in girls education both at community & government level. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
A3: We have to address issues such as menstruation, lack of access to water, poverty that hinders girls from accessing education. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
A4: @ElleAfrique The curriculum should be more gender-sensitive and address the current needs and challenges in our society today. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
Effective and good education cannot be possible without good teachers. So how do we get good teachers? In Vivian’s words: more appreciation, better compensation and incentives for teachers.
A8: @ElleAfrique The shortage is due to lack of appreciation, compensation and incentive for the work done by teachers. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
We close our #Elle101 twitter chat with solutions that have already been implemented by governments and various organizations in making education more inclusive, effective
A7: @ElleAfrique The first lady of Kenya launched a mentorship program for high school students which I think is a step forward. #Elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
A6: @ElleAfrique E.g @AkiliDada, @ALAcademy, @hope2shine, @HigherLifeFDN, @TomorrowTrust , @Camfed, @komera_ just to name a few. #elle101
— Vivian Onano (@vivianonano) July 22, 2016
#ELLE101 is our Twitter chat which takes place every first Friday of the month at 3pm (London Time). The chat which is hosted from our twitter account (@elleafrique), typically lasts for an hour and discusses different topics with a special guest. #ELLE101 provides you with the chance to network and grow your circle (and knowledge!) through shared interests.