Policies for senior women teachers to improve girls’ secondary education

Many girls in sub-Saharan Africa drop out of school due to early marriages, pregnancies, and the inability of their parents to pay school fees. Also, violence, such as teachers caning children, is common and causes some girls to leave. To support girls’ education and improve their attendance and completion patterns, Uganda created the post of senior woman teacher (SWT). At present, although SWTs are employed in slightly more than half the schools, the National Strategy for Girls Education (NSGE) found the position was weak, since their responsibilities were not well defined. As a result, the SWTs’ role is not well understood or, for that matter, appreciated.