Source: Tanzania Daily News

Speaking during the Fundraising Charity Walk in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Investment and Empowerment, Dr Mary Nagu, said many girls drop out of schools because of unfriendly conditions.

"Many girls drop from schools because of different challenges including early marriages and pregnancies," said Dr Nagu, who was the guest of honour at the event which took place at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) sports grounds.

She noted that in many African societies girls missed different opportunities because of traditional and historical reasons, and that while girls were left at home to help in domestic chores boys went to school. "Yet for those who got the opportunity to go to school had to walk long distances hence posing another challenge for them (girls) to perform well," she said.

Dr Nagu pointed out that the 2025 National Development Vision directs universal education to facilitate development in the country and that one of the goals of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction (MKUKUTA) is to provide Tanzanians with equal opportunities to education.

TEA General Director, Ms Rosemary Lulabuka thanked those who turned out for the charity walk which said the target was to raise 78 million/-.

Ms Rebecca Gyumi, one of the Goodwill Ambassadors of the fundraising campaign, said about 5000 girls drop out from school each year because of different challenges, saying some are being raped while going to schools due to long distances they walk.

The event with the theme, "Help Them Reach their Goals Donate for Girls Hostels Construction" was attended by the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu who donated 10 million/- and students from different secondary schools including Jangwani, Zanaki, Makongo and Baobab.

• Tanzania