We have signed a one year agreement with local organisation Zambian Open Community Schools (ZOCS) to encourage girls to enrol and not drop out of the schools we have built.

There are a variety of factors that affect the number of girls in education in Zambia. Enrolment for girls is high at the beginning of the school year but they drop out in large numbers as the terms progress.
[divider]
A large number of drop outs are due to family circumstances. If a rural family is struggling financially girls are more likely to be encouraged to leave school and work because a boy’s education is prioritised.
[divider]
There is also a tendency for girls to drop out of school once they reach puberty. They find it difficult to go to school when there is a lack of sanitation facilities and poor hygiene. This is often the case at rural schools in Zambia and is the reason why we build designated latrines for boys and girls at our projects.
[divider]
Other social issues including lack of security when walking to and from school, early marriages and teenage pregnancies can also cause the number of girls in school to decrease significantly throughout the year.
[divider]
During 2014 ZOCS will be working with four of our rural schools in Kapiri, supporting girls through their education. They will work with the parents and teachers to ensure greater gender awareness in the classroom and the wider community.
[divider]
ZOCS will also monitor attendance rates, so if a girl frequently misses school they will work with the family to solve any problems that could be preventing the child attending school.
[divider]
Alongside their key focus to keep girls in education, ZOCS will also work with each school to ensure they access their full entitlement of support from the Ministry of Education. This assistance was granted in the 2011 Education Act, which stated that community schools are legally recognised as part of the national schooling system.
[divider]
The programme will give girls an equal opportunity and the support they need to complete their education and reach their full potential.