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Arguments for a gender gap in Education in the UAE
The UAE has engaged in various strategies, which have brought rapid changes in the education sector. The male population has not only had dominance in majority supreme fields, their presence was great in the education sector. This has brought attention on the matter and various efforts by the government to try close up the gap have brought in tremendous efforts in the sector. I agree with the research findings about the existence of a hidden gap in gender in the education section sector (Ridge, 2009) in the UAE.
Arguments for a gender gap in Education in the UAE
The UAE has been commentated as one of the best performing nation in areas of gender balance in the education sector. According to a report in 2014, the UAE has managed to attain a balance between the number of boys and girls enrollment in schools (Khaishgi, 2014). What this report fails to note is that over the recent years the girl child seems to dominate over the boys in the higher levels of education (UNESCO, 2008). It is true the girls’ are performing better than boys as confirmed by a recent study showing the girls’ performance being better, according to an article done (Women in the UAE).
This report is true as there are various issues affecting the boys solely, which affects their performance. These setbacks include family issues and the studying environment that the boy child studies. The statics given by the (Ridge report, 2009) on the increase of school dropouts among the boys are true as it conforms to the (Chaudhary, 2013) report, which states that there is a recorded increase in drop levels in the boys estimated to be 35% as opposed to 25% of girls.
The (Ridge report, 2009) attributes to the increasing number of male dropouts and lower academic levels of various factors like the expectations’ of the society, for the male child to take care of the family and the society in general. The boys are number dropping to from school to work at increase. The majority of them drop out to source for money to try to help their families (Usman, 2015). The society expects the boy child to provide for his family in the event of demise of the dad. The boy is tasked with taking care of his mother and the rest of the siblings. In some other cases, the father might abandon the mother and the son is drops out to take care of the family.
The report on the gap on how women and men perceive returns to education is true. The UAE offers a wide number of semi skilled labors in the wells. A large number of men are in the mines to doing semi skilled labor. They do not perceive education to be that important while still they can drop out of school, cut the cost of paying for school, and still go earn money on the wells
Others opt for joining the military that does not need a lot education. They do not have to join the schools for higher education for them to get a job in the police force. These factors have made the boy child to view the returns of education much less. They have a habit of dropping from school much earlier. As for the girl child, the girls cannot engage in manual labor in the mines, it’s still a challenge for them, to enter the military. Hence, girls consider working hard in school to get good grades and proceed in university to get degrees to enable them, work in the private sector in technical jobs (Women in the UAE).
The government of the UAE has made tremendous effort in trying to strike a balance in boy and girl child enrollment in schools. That is not enough; the government should still focus on both the gender’s enrollment, continuation to full completion of their study. The boy child is facing many challenges, as there is increase in number of dropouts. The government and the rest of the society should keep their focus on the boy child in order not to lose them while over focusing on the girl child. The government should come up with strategies and policies through the education sector to ensure that the boy child is developed and motivated to succeed with his study.
References
Chaudhary, S. B. (2013, August 11). Why UAE Boys Are Dropping Out Of School. Gulf News [Dubai]. Retrieved from http://gulfnews.com/culture/education/why-are-uae-boys-dropping-out-of-school-1.1218563
Khaishgi, A. E. (2014, October 31). UAE improves gender equality score in global study. The National [Dubai]. Retrieved from http://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-improves-gender-equality-score-in-global-study
Women in the UAE | UAE Embassy in Washington, DC. (N.d) Retrieved from http://www.uae-embassy.org/about-uae/women-uae
Ridge, N. (2009, August). The Hidden Gender Gap in Education in the UAE. Policy Brief 12. Dubai School of Government
Usman, S. S. (2015, July 22). Dropping Out, Challenges and Solutions | TRENDS. Retrieved from http://trendsinstitution.org/dropping-out-challenges-and-solutions/
UNESCO, EFA Global Monitoring Report 2008. Web site: http://www.unesco.org/en/efareport