Paper long abstract:

The place of gender and conversations on reducing gender inequality in Africa is too important to remain the domain of the elite. The gender inequality gap in education continuum in Africa is widening (World Bank 2016), despite reduction effort put in by governments, development partners, civil society organizations and the academia. Gender inequalities in the African education system hinder African girls from benefiting from economic opportunities that education offer; a growing number of empirical evidence report a direct relationship between education to economic empowerment and human development index. Policies, pedagogy, programs, socio cultural and economic barriers trap the African female learner in a vicious circle that hinder her empowerment regardless of the noblest intentions, and thus there needs to be intentional inclusive and equitable conversations backed by actions towards reduction of gender inequality.

Gender equality is not merely an issue of human right, it is an economic necessity. Worldwide, productivity, and the pace of human development is slowing, (ILO 2017) and this women full and effective participation in the workforce are indispensable to inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Women in Africa account for half the population, they remain uneducated; high reports of drop out rates in secondary school, low transition rates to tertiary education, and lower completion rates in both secondary and tertiary education means lower supply into the workforce. Ensuring women fully participate in the economy is not only growth promoting, it diversifies economics, reduces inequality and mitigates demographic shift (Kochar et al 2016).