WINDHOEK – Over 40 girls who attended the 2020 celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science were urged to prioritise education before thinking of going into relationships.
Speaking at the celebrations held in the capital on Tuesday, Johanna Amunyela, co-founder of Namibia Optimus Investments, said that prioritising education always paves the way for the future of women in particular.
“You will have time for a boyfriend. What I can tell you girls today is that waiting to have a boyfriend does not take long if you prioritise education. Just take three to seven years of your life to get a degree and then you will see that everything comes last. Days are over that women used to depend on men and there are many examples of women in Namibia that you can learn from,” she said.
Amunyela added that early relationships only hinder the futures of Namibian girls and that girls need to seek advice when boys or men approach them.
This year’s celebration was held under the theme ‘Opportunities and Challenges of Women and Girls in Schools in Namibia’.
Speaking at the event, secretary general for the Namibia National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), Roderick April said that Namibian women make up over 51% of the country’s population, thus have a significant role in the socio-economic development of the country.
“Over 60% of learners who pass Grade 12 are female and over 65% of current students at higher institutions are female. Women and girls are facing challenges that influence the presence of them in science; these include stereotypes, gender-based education, gender inequality and bias,” he said.
He added that the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’ calls on all Namibians to embrace women and girls in all facets of humanity.
– Nampa-AP
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