Gender disparity and women empowerment: post-conflict analysis and management of girl-child education in Kasese district

Abstract

This study examined post conflict education in Kasese District for gender disparity against the girl child and explored possibility of empowerment. It examined the level of community support in education to the girl child in Kasese. It also attempted to identify factors that affect the education of the girl child in Kasese. The data for the study was obtained using the following instruments: focus group discussions, personal interview guide, observations, documentary analysis and a questionnaire. The study examined perception of parents and pupils about the benefits of educating the girl child and their empowerment. Objective one was analysed qualitatively, while a quantitative method involving descriptive statistics was also used to analyse objectives two and three. The study found out that gender disparity and low women empowerment in Kasese District has been caused by low level of parents' education, poor hygiene at school facilities, poor school infrastructure, early marriages, high poverty levels in the district, domestic violence, and tradition and cultural beliefs. The study also established that parents perceive that educating the girl child is beneficial. The benefits are believed to be realised by the husbands and not the parents who actually pay to educate the girl child. In these circumstances, when a family is faced with insufficient funding, boys are given the first priority. This creates gender disparity with the negative effect on women empowerment. The study makes the following recommendations: i) Develop and implement a strategy to mobilize funding that targets education of the vulnerable, including both the girl child and boy child; ii) public sensitization and awareness campaigns especially targeting the parents, teachers and community leaders; iii) establish appropriate measures to address hygiene at school; and working out a partnership with the central government targeting development programs like the universal Primary and Secondary education, and primary health care programs.