Girl students speak out on new Constitution

Zanaki secondary school

Girl students in Dar es Salaam region have urged the constitutional review commission to make sure that the new constitution defends their rights to education and protects them from unconducive and vulnerable learning school environments.
Students from Jangwani, Zanaki and Kisutu secondary schools were contributing their views on the draft constitution during a meeting organized by Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE-Tanzania Chapter), in Dar es Salaam this week and attended by reporters and teachers.
A form four student from Zanaki secondary school, Lilian Baton said that some school girls have dropped out of school and others raped because of living far away from school, having no accommodation facilities such as hostels.
“Some students are poor. They live very far from their schools and wake up a few hours after midnight to prepare to go to school and while on the road, they can meet thugs waylaying unprotected girls. Therefore, this constitution must clearly state girls’ rights to education regardless of their parents’ economic status,” she said.
Contributing to discussion on Article 41 (a) on the rights to education without obstacles, Monica Mwaipopo from Jangwani Secondary School said that the article was silent on types of obstacles being referred. According to her such obstacles should be clearly named and explained.
“Girls are faced with many obstacles such as early pregnancies, transport problems, gender violence and sexual corruption among others. These should be clearly stated so that girls can be effectively protected from such vulnerability,” she said.
Clara Kabyemera from Kisutu Girls, said that Article 41(b) should include education for self-reliance to produce competent graduates who could create jobs and stand on their own feet instead of being job seekers and wait for government employment.
Apart from commending the students’ fruitful contribution on the draft constitution, FAWE-Tanzania national coordinator Neema Kitundu urged the students to work hard in their studies, saying education was the best weapon to emancipate themselves and others from male domination.
“I urge you students to aim high. It is your education that would determine your status in the community you live, therefore you should work very hard and prove that you can do better,” she said.
Commenting on the meeting, FAWE Tanzania Chairperson Winifrida Rutahindurwa said that the purpose of organizing the meeting was to give an opportunity for girls in schools to participate fully in giving out their views on the draft constitution like any other Tanzanian, considering that most African girls have no access to a wide range of opportunities like other groups, such as boys.
“We want them to air their views on what is in the draft, what is missing and what to add to come up with the best constitution that could develop, defend and enhance their talents and potentialities with a gender eye in all fronts of life,” she said.
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a Pan African non governmental organization founded in 1992 to promote girls’ and women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa in line with the quest for Education for All.
Like in other countries where FAWE works, in Tanzania FAWE works together with its partners to create positive societal attitudes, policies and practices that promote equity for girls in terms of access, retention, performance and education quality, through influencing the transformation of education systems.