The role of girls’ clubs in challenging gender norms in Ethiopian primary education

One of the key priorities of ongoing nationwide education reforms in Ethiopia is the promotion of girls’ education through the establishment of Girls’ Clubs. These Clubs aim to support girls’ education by addressing restrictive socio-cultural practices and improving the accessibility and safety of...

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Main Authors: Nardos Chuta, Louise Yorke, Yisak Tafere, Dawit Tibebu Tiruneh, Alula Pankhurst, Pauline Rose
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: College of education, Bahir Dar University 2025-02-01
Series:Bahir Dar Journal of Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ajol33011.wp/index.php/bdje/article/view/278609
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author Nardos Chuta
Louise Yorke
Yisak Tafere
Dawit Tibebu Tiruneh
Alula Pankhurst
Pauline Rose
author_facet Nardos Chuta
Louise Yorke
Yisak Tafere
Dawit Tibebu Tiruneh
Alula Pankhurst
Pauline Rose
author_sort Nardos Chuta
collection DOAJ
description One of the key priorities of ongoing nationwide education reforms in Ethiopia is the promotion of girls’ education through the establishment of Girls’ Clubs. These Clubs aim to support girls’ education by addressing restrictive socio-cultural practices and improving the accessibility and safety of schools. This paper explores the role of Girls’ Clubs in challenging gender norms that influence girls’ education in primary schools in Ethiopia. The paper draws on data from interviews with Girls’ Club focal teachers and focus group discussions with student members across four regions. Findings reveal that while Girls’ Clubs have made some progress in challenging restrictive gender norms, their impact is limited by financial, institutional, and structural constraints. Overcoming these constraints requires a collaborative approach involving school leadership, communities, and external governmental and funding organisations. We recommend that future national education reforms prioritise increased financial support for Girls’ Clubs and integrate their initiatives into broader community-level strategies.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1816-336X
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language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher College of education, Bahir Dar University
record_format Article
series Bahir Dar Journal of Education
spelling doaj-art-1551b2fe07cb48eda166236c1b6be1672025-08-20T03:41:56ZengCollege of education, Bahir Dar UniversityBahir Dar Journal of Education1816-336X2415-04522025-02-0125110.4314/10.4314/bdje.v25i1.2The role of girls’ clubs in challenging gender norms in Ethiopian primary education Nardos Chuta0Louise Yorke1Yisak Tafere2Dawit Tibebu Tiruneh3Alula Pankhurst4Pauline Rose 5RISE Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia REAL Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKRISE Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaREAL Centre, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKRISE Ethiopia and Young Lives Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaREAL Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK One of the key priorities of ongoing nationwide education reforms in Ethiopia is the promotion of girls’ education through the establishment of Girls’ Clubs. These Clubs aim to support girls’ education by addressing restrictive socio-cultural practices and improving the accessibility and safety of schools. This paper explores the role of Girls’ Clubs in challenging gender norms that influence girls’ education in primary schools in Ethiopia. The paper draws on data from interviews with Girls’ Club focal teachers and focus group discussions with student members across four regions. Findings reveal that while Girls’ Clubs have made some progress in challenging restrictive gender norms, their impact is limited by financial, institutional, and structural constraints. Overcoming these constraints requires a collaborative approach involving school leadership, communities, and external governmental and funding organisations. We recommend that future national education reforms prioritise increased financial support for Girls’ Clubs and integrate their initiatives into broader community-level strategies. https://ajol33011.wp/index.php/bdje/article/view/278609Gender normsGEQIP-Egirls’ clubsgirls’ educationEthiopia
spellingShingle Nardos Chuta
Louise Yorke
Yisak Tafere
Dawit Tibebu Tiruneh
Alula Pankhurst
Pauline Rose
The role of girls’ clubs in challenging gender norms in Ethiopian primary education
Bahir Dar Journal of Education
Gender norms
GEQIP-E
girls’ clubs
girls’ education
Ethiopia
title The role of girls’ clubs in challenging gender norms in Ethiopian primary education
title_full The role of girls’ clubs in challenging gender norms in Ethiopian primary education
title_fullStr The role of girls’ clubs in challenging gender norms in Ethiopian primary education
title_full_unstemmed The role of girls’ clubs in challenging gender norms in Ethiopian primary education
title_short The role of girls’ clubs in challenging gender norms in Ethiopian primary education
title_sort role of girls clubs in challenging gender norms in ethiopian primary education
topic Gender norms
GEQIP-E
girls’ clubs
girls’ education
Ethiopia
url https://ajol33011.wp/index.php/bdje/article/view/278609
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