Lack of pads pushes 22pc girls out of school

Kenya: Some Sh2.4 billion is required to provide girls with sanitary towels annually. This translates to Sh200 million monthly or Sh50 each for four million girls. But girls may face even more challenges as the government cuts down the allocation of funds for sanitary pads by Sh80 million. Its budgetary allocation this year is Sh100 million for the project.

A baseline survey by Jielimishe Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) project has revealed that 48 per cent of girls are in school compared to 52 per cent of boys. The study however highlights that there are regional disparities with some counties having only 20 per cent of girls in school compared to 80 per cent boys.

The survey shows that if girls are well mentored and exposed to positive portrayal of women, then they will be motivated to stay in school.

“Lack of fees (39 per cent) and sanitary towels (22 per cent) is the major reason why most girls drop out of school,” the report showed.

Inhibit learning

The GEC report indicates that in Meru County, 72 per cent of the school going children complete primary education. The report further indicated that only 25 per cent of primary schools and 27 per cent of secondary schools provide sanitary towels in the county.

While expenses in Mombasa County are higher than in Meru and Laikipia counties, girls in the area said lack of sanitary towels inhibits their learning. About 41 per cent of the girls in the county reported that mentoring is significant for their stay in school and 87 per cent had guidance and counselling sessions.

Laikipia Education executive member John Bosco expressed concern on the budgetary allocation. Speaking during a meeting in Nairobi, Bosco said strict policies need to be set for the county to ensure that girls stop dropping out of school.

“Laikipia is a cosmopolitan and pastoralist county that requires proper policies to enhance education especially for the girl child. Most schools in the county lack boarding facilities,” said Bosco.