Muslim girls top list of school dropouts

Muslim girls in the country top the list of school dropouts because of early marriages, director of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth for Southern Africa Salim Banda said last week .

Banda was speaking during the closing ceremony of a five-day Muslim Sisters Camp in Lilongwe.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daudi.

Minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure Sidiki Mia also visited the camp where he presented a lecture on the importance of moral character.

“It is unfortunate that our Muslim sisters continue to disregard education and opt for early marriages. The result is that we do not have Muslim women in influential positions to shape the development agenda of the country,” said Banda, addressing 200 participants who joined the camp.

He said the camp helped the participants to brainstorm and listen to lectures from professionals on the benefit of education and a God-fearing life.

“Through the camp, we try to motivate them to take education seriously and avoid early marriages. We also emphasise the value of a Godly life. They have to follow the teachings of Allah in the Koran to build moral character,” said Banda.

On her part, Daudi said it is unfortunate that in Parliament there are only three Muslim women, which she said demonstrates that Muslim girls are lagging behind in education.

“Even in our colleges, there are few Muslim girls compared to Christians. We have very few Muslim women doctors and even professors. I urge you girls to work hard in school so that Muslim women can help shape policy in influential positions,” she said.