The reasons for girls' dropout in Yemen from the point of view of school principals and caretakers: A survey study

الملخص

It is important that girls have access to education as not only does it benefit girls' , but also the community in which they live. Education helps girls to develop skills that allow them to influence improving changes in key areas and to approve some of the highest returns of all development investments. In other words, and as stated in a report by the world bank (2010) “there is no investment more effective for achieving development goals than educating girls”.

Education induces girls claim their rights, and to realize their potential in the economic, political and social areas. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) clarifies that girls have the right to education and this right is considered as one of the most critical of all girls because education plays an important role in enabling girls to know and secure other rights related to their daily lives.

The link between education and public health is strong. International Center for Research on Women (2008) states that :“The education that a girl receives is the strongest predictor of the age she will marry and is a critical factor in reducing the prevalence of child marriage”. The World Bank (2008) in a report assures that:”An additional year of schooling for 1,000 women helps prevent at least two maternal deaths, four infant deaths and 100 HIV/AIDS infection”

A girl's need for education is vital to support one’s self and family in later years. UNESCO in (2005) estimated that girls with basic amount of knowledge are more likely to seek for medical care and use reliable family planning methods, in order to be in a better health and well being. As a result, their infants and children have higher survival rates and tend to be healthier and better nourished.

With regard to the social aspect, there are several compelling benefits associated with girls’ education. For example, creating intergenerational education since educated mothers are more likely to send their children to school. Department for International Development (DFID) in 2009 stated that: ”Mothers’ education is a significant variable affecting children’s education attainment and opportunities. In many countries each additional year of formal education completed by a mother is translated into her children remaining in school for an additional one-third to one-half year”. Aglan (2008) clarifies that education can insist the cultural identity among women, promotes cultural understanding and tolerance and also can address some of societies’ deeply rooted inequalities. Al-Ali (2005) assumed that improving educational opportunities for girls can help them posses abilities that accelerate moving forward and change Cultural and traditional values that stand as barriers for education. (Alforat news paper P5).

A prominent association exists between girl’s education and economic productivity. Educating girls accelerate the process of overcoming poverty and contributes to female economic independence as by allowing them to work out home as productive employers yielding both private and social benefits. The more education a girl receive, the more likely she is to get a job and earn a higher wage. Right to education Project (2008) considered education as “the single most powerful way to lift people out of poverty”. world bank ranks girl's education among "the most powerful tools for reducing girls’ vulnerability”. Tomasevski (2005)  also describes girl's education as “a powerful tool in making a change in the lives of girls and women". Poverty results from violations of human rights, including the right to education, which disproportionately affect girls and women. Denial of the right to education leads to exclusion from the labor market and marginalization into the informal sector or unpaid work. This perpetuates and increases women’s poverty”.(P 122).

Girl’s education is really a significant factor for development as it provides some of the most useful returns to any nation, it offers intergenerational benefits that affect individuals, families, and society at large.