The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has officially launched the Africa Educates Her Campaign, under the theme "Keep girls in school, empower their future".
The campaign, driven by the African Union International Centre for Girls' and Women's Education in Africa, aims to address the gender gap that continues to limit girls participating in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director at the launch of the campaign, Clemeciah Kavita, the Chief Social Worker at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, affirmed the ministry's commitment to advocating for policies, programmes and partnerships that empower girls and young women to take their rightful place in Namibia's development and in Africa's transformation.
"Through this initiative, we are called to action to strengthen collaboration among ministries, civil society, the private sector and communities. Together, we must ensure that no girl is left behind because of poverty, gender stereotypes, or early marriage. We must amplify their voice, showcase their achievements and build systems that allow them to thrive as scientists, engineers, and innovators."
Kavita says the government has made some strides in addressing gender gaps in education; however, the challenge remains when it comes to STEM-related subjects.
Many young girls still lack mentorship that inspires them to pursue science careers.
"Drawing from the lessons of the impact of COVID-19, the campaign seeks to advance progress toward protecting girls' and young women's right to education, especially in emergency situations and hard-to-reach areas. Phase two, under which Namibia launches a focus on the critical theme 'Keep girls in school and empower their future', this effort is central to ensuring that the African Union Agenda 2063 objective of prosperous and inclusive growth is achieved," said Ayesha Wentworth, Director of Programmes and Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Education.
In addition, Wentworth highlighted that, although boys face their own educational challenges, it is young women who remain significantly under-represented in STEM fields. This is not just a gap; it's an untapped reservoir of potential, innovation, and leadership.
The campaign's success depends on strong multi-sector collaboration to remove barriers and create an enabling environment for girls' full participation in education, especially in STEM.