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First lady lauds Indian policies for girl education at World Bank Event
US First Lady Michelle Obama lauded Indian administration for the steps taken to educate and empower girl students. She was speaking at a World Bank event titled “Let Girls Learn!” The World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and he Indian Ambassador to US Arun K Singh were also present.
US First Lady Michelle Obama was all praises for the recent steps taken by the Indian administration to educate and empower girl students through various programmes. The first lady was speaking at a special event at the World Bank titled “Let Girls Learn!”. The World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim was also present at the meet.
"I am thrilled that countries like Ghana and India and Rwanda are already doing such important work as part of this effort — from scholarships and mentorship opportunities, to innovative programmes to break down the cultural barriers that keep girls out of school," Michelle said.
The Indian Ambassador to US Arun K Singh in his speech said that Prime Minister Modi has taken special interest in education of girls in the country and launched a “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” (“Save the Girl Child Educate the Girl Child”) initiative in January last year.
Adding to the announced initiatives, he said, India's National Campaign for Secondary Education aims to make quality education for adolescent girls accessible and affordable, besides enhancing the enrolment rates by increasing the accessibility of a secondary school within a reasonable distance and finally improving the quality of education by ensuring compliance to prescribed norms and removal of gender, social-economic and disability barriers.
"The national goal is to achieve an enrolment of 90 % by 2017, and universal retention by 2020. In 5 years, enrolment of Girls has improved from 58.70 to 78.94. Gender Parity Index has increased from 0.88 to 1. And there is sharp reduction in Gender gap," Singh said.
“Adolescent girls are being trained in job market skills including Information Technology, automobile, retail, security, wellness, healthcare, travel & tourism, physical education and sports, gems and jewelry designing,” he said.
Singh added: “I recall the words of Prime Minister Modi during his conversation with President Obama on radio in a special joint appearance on January 27, 2015 in New Delhi: ‘To save the girl child, to educate the girl child, this is our social duty, cultural duty, and humanitarian responsibility.’”
To incentivise girls to attend schools a national incentive scheme has been rolled out that gifts money to young women from disadvantaged backgrounds when they turn 18 and have passed their X grade exams.
Addressing the biggest issue facing rural India, Arun Kumar said, "Separate toilets have been built for girls in over 96 % of secondary schools. Hostels were constructed close to schools to serve girls from remote areas. In one particular scheme, bicycles were given to girls who completed elementary school, making it easier for them to go to schools," he said adding that more and more female teachers are being hired.
"It's an expression of our belief in the power of education to transform the lives and prospects of millions of girls worldwide, as well as the prospects of their families, their communities, and, of course, their countries. And it's also an affirmation of these girls' extraordinary promise," the first lady said.
Image Courtesy: @Flotus