1. The importance of female education in somalia

2. Argument
In this paper, I argue education is intrinsic to development in Somalia and boosting levels of female education can increase family health, child survival, and economic development.
Without a real change on both a local level and by the government in Somalia to give girls in developing countries the education they need, they will be denied equal opportunities in work and life forever.

3. Background Discrimination comes from: Gender inequalities
Expectations of early marriage and pregnancy
Lack of overall respect/regard for women
Religious values
Despite the proven benefits that come from female education, girls face a particular set of barriers that prevents them from receiving an education, including many economic and cultural impediments.
Somalis are primarily Sunni Muslims (Islam)
The Koran endorses certain forms gender discrimination including, “A woman’s testimony only counts half as much as a man, and a daughter only inherits half as much as a son…it has been much harder for pious Muslims to ignore unpleasant and antiquated passages in the Koran, because it is believed to be not just divinely inspired but literally the word of God”
These religious beliefs play a prominent role in cultural practices, perpetuate the idea of male power over women, and prevent women from acting as individuals.

4. Analysis & Evidence
Somalia has 95% of girls not attending school and has one the poorest indicators of human development “with the lowest life expectancy, the highest infant mortality rate, and one of the highest levels of illiteracy” (World Bank, 2009).

5. Analysis & Evidence
In 2012, Somalia ranked the #1 country on the World Inequality Database in Education for the percentage of poor women who have never been to school

6. Analysis & Evidence Economic reasons
Value of boys education over girls
Less risky for the job market
Economic reason for investing in the education of boys rather than girls because girls are perceived as less valuable when educated
Educated women are believed to be less likely to abide by their father or husband, and therefore it is better to keep them uneducated in order to keep them obedient
Also, boys are seen as more likely to get jobs once they are educated, therefore it is less of a risk to put a boy through school than a girl who might not even get a job

7. Positive Outcomes of Female Education
Delayed marriage and pregnancy
Safer family practices
Economic prosperity
By educating girls about their rights, healthy family practices, and ways they can contribute to society, it gives them the opportunity to become more meaningful participants in their community and enables them to make informed choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health.
Having girls go to school can also allow them to get married and start having children later in life, which can be safer for both the mother and the child (ex: fistulas)
Cultures must overcome their gender biases and make female education a priority. Next, this issue needs to be addressed by governments. The enforcement of mandatory education for both boys and girls must occur in order for the nation to thrive.

8. Ways to get more girls in school
Change the stigma around female education at a cultural & local level
Have the government make school for all children mandatory
Provide sanitary pads
and toilets for girls going
through menstruation
Provide feeding
programs
Government would have to create legislation making education mandatory for all children
This would have to be enforced at a local level and by the authorities
Funding could be an issue

9. Conclusion
Countries that repress women through lack of education are hindering their own progress by not tapping into the potential resources of roughly half their population.
Action needs to be taken on:
Local level (start with culture)
National level (laws, enforcement, regulation)
Education is one of the most critical areas of empowerment for women.
Lack of female education is a crisis that carries high costs and needs to be addressed on multiple levels.

10. Sources
Bertelsmann Stiftung, BTI 2014 — Somalia Country Report. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2014.
Cleland, John G., and Jerome K. Van Ginneken. “Maternal Education and Child Survival in Developing Countries: The Search for Pathways of Influence.” Science Direct, Web. 16 Nov
Falah, Ghazi-Walid, and Caroline R. Nagel. “Geographies of Muslim Women.” Google Books. The Guilford Press, Web. 16 Nov
“Gender Equality Data and Statistics.” The World Bank. N.p Web. 03 Dec. 2014
“Right to Education: Situation Around the World.” Humanium for Children’s Rights. N.p., Web. 05 Nov
“Somalia.” Religions. Encyclopedia of the Nations, Web. 16 Nov
“Somalia.” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, Web. 14 Nov
Somalia Civic Education Short Film: Women’s Empowerment. National Democratic Institute, 4 Oct Web.
Subbarao, K., and Laura Raney. “Social Gains from Female Education: A Cross-National Study.” JSTOR. N.p., Web. 30 Nov
The Current State of Education in Somalia. UNICEF Somalia, 18 June Web.
“Why Aren’t Girls in Schools?” The Right to Education Project. N.p., Web 05 Nov