The Girl Child Education and Sustainable Development in Africa

Abstract

Gender equality demonstrates the moral, ethical, and real reasons why greater gender equality is very essential to sustainable development. Gender equality is indispensable for sustainable development in Africa considering the fact that education decreases poverty in all its forms (SDG no. 1), ends hunger through reaching food security (SDG no. 2); Quality education for girls, reduces fertility rates and therefore slows down population explosion; lowers infant and maternal mortality rates and improves health and nutrition and well-being of families (SDG no. 3). Educated mothers ensure better prospects of education for their children (SDG no. 4). The apparent gap and imbalance between the boy child and the girl child is attributed to patriarchy, lack of quality education, poverty and gender disparities, and consequently, the differences in access to human, financial, and social capital. The socio-economic marginalization of girls and women resulting from gender inequalities, lack of access to education, and if at all, lack of quality education result in poverty, poor standards of living, diminished career choices, unequal salaries, and economic exclusion. It is very essential for governments and their leaders to invest in girl-child education for sustainable development in Africa.