Lecture Notes on the Importance of Education for Girls in Developing Countries

Benefits of Education for Girls

• Enhances community status
• Improves health
• Increases safety

Challenges in the Developing World

• Education not prioritized for girls
• Expected to work, fetch water, care for siblings, or engage in low-wage jobs

Case Study: Suma's Story

Early Life

• Parents did not send her to school; instead, sent her to work as a Kamari (bonded laborer)
• At age 6, Suma was bonded to her first master, a landlord who exploited her labor

Life as a Kamari

• Worked from early morning until night, performing various tasks:
  • Cleaning, washing dishes, fetching firewood, minding goats and children
• Faced bullying and mistreatment from the master's children
• Desired to go back home and go to school like her brother but felt guilty due to her family's poverty

Second Master

• Treated poorly by second master and mistress, forced to sleep in goat shed and eat scraps
• Negative experiences led her to write songs reflecting her sadness and hope

Third Master and Transformation

• At 11 years old, Suma arrived at her third master's house, where she met a school teacher named Biml Sir
• Biml Sir encouraged her enrollment in a night class for reading and writing
• Realization of the true nature of bonded labor and its classification as slavery

Advocacy and Liberation

• Social workers and teachers advocated against bonded labor and informed Suma’s master about the laws regarding children's rights and labor
• After persistent efforts, Suma was liberated and returned home to her family
• Now considers herself her own master, breaking the cycle of bonded labor in her family

Suma's Mission

• Suma is dedicated to ensuring all girls have access to education
  • Recognizes a common trend: parents often prioritize boys' education over girls'
• Highlights the vulnerabilities of girls:
  • Increased risks of hunger, violence, and disease due to lack of education

Conclusion

• The practice of Kamari has been illegal in Nepal since 2000
• Suma’s story exemplifies the importance of education for girls and the need for systemic change to ensure equality in educational opportunities.