GEITA: THE Canadian Ambassador to Tanzania, Emily Burns, has said that the Keeping Adolescent Girls in School (KAGIS) project, implemented through cooperation between Canada and Tanzania, has helped strengthen the education sector in the country.
According to the ambassador, the project has been particularly by ensuring that adolescent girls continue to access education in safe, inclusive, and learner-friendly environments that give every student an equal opportunity to succeed.
The envoy made the statement during the closing ceremony of the KAGIS project in Geita and Kigoma regions.
The five-year project has contributed to reducing truancy (utoro) among girls.
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Geita Regional Commissioner, Martine Shigela, said that certain traditions and cultural practices have continued to hold back the girl child, and called on communities to challenge such practices to ensure girls continue to access education.
Plan International Country Director, Jane Sembuche, said that when families are able to meet the costs associated with educating adolescent girls, the girls are more likely to remain in school and continue with secondary education.
The KAGIS project was funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by Plan International in partnership with RAFIKI SDO and WPC.