Girls are at risk of dropping out of secondary schools in Gogrial State, top students and administrators in the area said at a conference last week.

The conference discussed a recent counseling program that aims to minimize drop outs, and took place between girls from the Kuajok secondary school and officials from the Ministry of Education in Gogrial state. 

“Time is a problem for us” said Nyiwala Joseph, head girl at the Kuajok academic secondary school. She said that household duties and poverty often overwhelm girls, causing them to drop out. She also said that technology and cultural factors also play a role in causing girls to drop out of school.

The Director of Gender in the Ministry of Education Madam Deborah Uduel said she was impressed to see girls openly talk out their issues.

“It is really very wonderful to hear girls admitting to themselves that we are the cause of all these issues” Uduel said. “Being a girl in the house does not mean that she has to take care of everything”