Girl Child Education in Post War Sierra Leone

Abstract

Conflict in any part of the world creates multidimensional impact on the society. It runs-down human and material resources of the state. While the material resources of the state that were destroyed by conflict could be replaced easily, the human resource damage is often difficult to correct in most cases. The Sierra Leonean state has been touched by the damaging hands of conflict. The consequence of the conflict on the girl-child has directly and indirectly affected the overall human capital development of the state. Today the war-torn mothers are increasingly begetting teenage and child-mothers too, thus creating a dangerous multiplier effect on the nation building process. The poverty level in the country has enhanced the pool of the uneducated girls in the society, creating a potential danger for the future children of the country, who would be nurtured by these largely uneducated present and future mothers. Consequently, the paper has presented the need for girl-child education in the Sierra Leone nation building process. It has also highlighted a number of post conflict stress disorders and other challenges which were undergone by the girl-child. Finally, it calls for all stakeholders in the country to promote girl-child education in one way or the other for improved national development.