Purposeful and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have called on the government of Sierra Leone to prioritise the views and experiences of girls to advance the country’s education reforms.

Development Diaries reports that the country’s 2021 National Policy on Radical Inclusion in Schools acknowledged that pregnant girls, young mothers, and other groups are systematically excluded from school.

Until 2020, the government had banned pregnant girls from school despite girls dropping out of school at a higher rate attributed to the intersection of poverty and gender norms.

Sierra Leone has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in the world, and rates are highest among girls living in poverty.

The country’s parliament recently enacted the Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act to address these issues.

‘The new education act is a landmark moment for girls’ access to education in Sierra Leone, but the powerful social, cultural, and political factors that have kept pregnant girls out of school won’t change overnight’, Purposeful’s Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chernor Bah, said.

‘As the government celebrates on the national and global stage, we are optimistic but deeply cautious.

‘We will join in those celebrations when we know, directly from girls themselves, that they can enrol in school and complete their education without hindrance’.

According to HRW, pregnant girls face numerous obstacles to education including discrimination based on pregnancy, stigma, bullying, poverty, and lack of access to childcare.

‘To make good on its promises that all girls can go to school, Sierra Leone’s government will need to simultaneously address poverty, sexual and reproductive health, and exploitation risks’, Deputy Women’s Rights Director at HRW, Regina Tamés, said.

The organisations called on the government of Sierra Leone to listen closely to girls and civil society groups who support them to know firsthand what girls need to go to school.

Photo source: Purposeful