For many girls in India, secondary education is the bridge to a safer and more secure future. It helps them build confidence, learn new skills, and open doors to opportunities. Yet even today, millions of girls are unable to continue their education beyond primary school.
At CRY UK, we believe every girl deserves the chance to learn. To support her better, it’s important to understand what holds her back.
The weight of household responsibilities: Many girls take on a large share of household chores, like cooking, cleaning, and looking after siblings. These responsibilities often leave them with little time or energy for school, leading to irregular attendance and eventually dropping out.
Early marriages that cut childhood short: Child marriage is one of the biggest reasons girls leave school. Once married, they are expected to manage the home, making education nearly impossible. Early marriage also brings serious health risks, early pregnancies, and limited opportunities. It reduces a girl’s chance to learn, stay healthy, and build a secure future.
Financial hardship that forces difficult choices: In families facing poverty, girls are often pulled out of school to earn and support the household. Many end up in child labour, working in farms, homes, shops, or as domestic help. These financial pressures force girls to choose survival over education, limiting their future opportunities.
Safety concerns and lack of infrastructure: Long distances to school, unsafe routes, and lack of transportation make parents hesitant to send their daughters to secondary school. Poor school infrastructure, especially the absence of separate toilets, also discourages girls from attending regularly.
Lack of accessible secondary and higher schools: Many communities have primary schools nearby, but secondary and higher secondary schools are much farther. The long travel becomes a barrier, especially for older girls, resulting in high dropout rates during transition years.
Deep-rooted stereotypes and cultural expectations: Deep-rooted gender norms still influence who gets to study. Many families prioritise boys’ education, seeing them as future earners, while girls are expected to manage the home or prepare for marriage. These beliefs lead to early dropouts, fewer opportunities, and a cycle where girls’ education is consistently undervalued across generations.
Lack of menstrual hygiene awareness: Without access to sanitary napkins, clean toilets, or basic awareness, many girls miss school during their periods. Over time, this leads to frequent gaps in learning and increases the risk of dropping out.
How CRY UK is breaking these barriers
CRY UK’s project team works with families, schools, and communities to ensure that girls continue their education with dignity and confidence:
Helping girls enrol and attend school regularly – Working closely with school authorities and community administration to track attendance, identify first-time learners and girls who have dropped out, and support their enrolment or re-enrolment in school.
Counseling families to delay early marriages – Educating parents about children’s rights and their responsibilities through parent modules and mothers’ groups. For adolescent girls at high risk of early marriage, the teams conduct home visits, explaining the long-term value of girls’ education and encouraging families to prioritise schooling over marriage.
Offering academic support and Life Skills Sessions – Helping girls stay engaged in school by providing academic and digital literacy support through Child Activity Centers and Digital Literacy Centers. Life skills sessions build confidence, shape opinions, and encourage girls to dream beyond traditional expectations.
Improving school infrastructure and accessibility – Working with communities to improve school infrastructure, ensure separate and clean sanitation facilities, and help establish accessible secondary and higher secondary schools within the community. Where needed, hostel facilities are arranged to provide girls with a safe and supportive space to continue their education.
Creating safe spaces where girls can learn and speak freely – Providing supportive spaces through Child Activity Centers, where girls can learn, express themselves, discuss challenges, and build confidence. These spaces encourage open dialogue and help girls feel heard and supported.
Supporting families through government programs and livelihood options – Connecting families to government programs, social protection benefits, and livelihood opportunities. This reduces financial pressure at home so girls are not pulled out of school to work or manage household responsibilities.
A girl’s education is her right and an essential step toward a more equal future. With your support, we can help more girls stay in school, complete their education, and build stronger futures for themselves and their communities. Donate to CRY UK to help strengthen girls’ education so they can choose the future they truly deserve.
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