The struggle for education in Africa remains a monumental challenge for young people particularly girls from time to time.  In spite of all the mounting constraints, some girls remain steadfast and focused in pursuing their education. Girls are no exception to the many Africans desires to obtain a spice of international education if not full.

A Tanzanian national Sarah Chodota, an exchange student, viewed her studies at Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences as a dream come through.  “I have never had a thought of leaving Tanzania to study in this part of the world”.  My presence in Europe, particularly in Finland, is based on my academic standing at Tumani University Iringa back home”.

However, Sarah admitted that studying Journalism had never been her ambition but considers life as unpredictable. The 23 year old further explained that her initial ambition has always been Politics and Public Administration. Following her application at Tumani University for admission, journalism became her option as the university has already registered the targeted number of students.

“Now selecting an alternative field of studies came as a new pretty new beginning because I then began to wonder how to proceed with the situation”. Now that journalism was the only option, she felt that all was not lost; the adage that if the capable is not available, then the available is made capable became a reality.

For Sarah, this was absolutely not the first unfortunate situation in her life. According to the young female journalism student coming to Europe wouldn’t have been possible if she had not studied journalism. “That is why I am so delighted to study here in Finland”.

Females are the least educated gender in Africa. Reasons for this range from traditional practices which commit them to learning about domestic work such as cooking, child-bearing, babysitting, farming etc.

Moreover, attending Sande Society (bush school for girls in Africa) was given excessive priority to that of formal education. There, women learn the basis of family sustenance as early as 5 years though adults are also recruited. Formal education is totally disregarded during the “Sande Society” commences something that contravenes the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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