Breaking the Mold: Navigating Educational Challenges for Boys

As someone deeply passionate about addressing the unique hurdles boys face in their academic journey, it’s time to cast a spotlight on the shadows that have concealed these challenges for far too long.

Out-of-school Children: A Heartbreaking Manifestation

Whether in a remote village or a bustling city across Africa, the persistent sight of out-of-school children remains—a heartbreaking manifestation of untapped potential.

Despite the urgency to address this crisis, international organizations seem to focus exclusively on the educational challenges of girls. Nowhere is this more evident than in the distressing echoes of the increasing number of out-of-school girls in Afghanistan. The undeniable plight of these girls emphasizes the crucial fight for their education, especially against oppressive forces like the Taliban.

However, let’s not lose sight of a broader reality: the Taliban isn’t just robbing girls of their right to quality education; they are equally depriving boys.

In countries governed predominantly by Islamic law, commonly referred to as Shariah, boys’ education centers around Islamic knowledge, prioritizing the teaching of Sharia Law while neglecting numeracy and literacy. This strictly religious schooling, at its core, poses a significant problem when it comes to educating our children.

So when I think about Afghanistan, I think about all the children—girls and boys—who are being denied their fundamental human right to quality education and the impact that has on all the Afghan people.

The Unseen Struggles: Boys’ Educational Challenges

Setting the Scene: Over the past 25 years, discussions about educational obstacles have predominantly focused on the challenges faced by girls. However, it’s time to shine a light on the silent struggles of our boys.

According to UNESCO, a staggering 125.5 million boys are out of school, surpassing the 118 million girls in the same situation globally. Of the 244 million out-of-school children, 100 million non-learners reside in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A crucial yet often conveniently overlooked fact is that boys comprise over half of the out-of-school children.

By 2050, 1 in 4 humans will be African, and the continent will be home to at least one-third of all young people aged 15 to 24, according to the United Nations. The global educational community must address these alarming numbers, shedding light on boys’ academic challenges and striving for a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.

Classroom Battlefield: Boys’ Expectations and Stereotypes

As a society, we seem to forget that boys are also up against stereotypes and societal expectations in school. If unprepared, these factors can negatively impact their academic performance, school experience, and mental well-being—akin to entering a battlefield where expectations serve as enemy lines.

Our classrooms must be designed to meet the learning needs of boys and girls. Movement, competition, and personal interactions are elements that keep boys engaged. Unfortunately, these are usually missing, to their detriment, because schools are tailored to the teachers’ desires and how girls learn. As a result, boys become distracted, which can lead to falling behind in their studies, being held back, dropping out, or failing to learn anything in the worst-case scenario.

Boys have fallen behind in enrollment, completion rates, and learning outcomes. However, when a boy triumphs over these odds, these statistics transform into success stories and benefit everyone.

Discipline in Schools: The Untold Stories

Boys face unique challenges with discipline in schools. Teachers tend to criticize boys more, inflict harsher punishments, corporal discipline, and other forms of gender-based violence. Boys are also more likely to experience physical bullying by classmates. These forms of violence negatively impact a boy child’s academic achievement and enthusiasm for learning.

Though corporal punishment is illegal in most countries, the boys I know complain of unequal disciplinary actions and differential treatment between them and their female counterparts—a harsh reality that cannot be ignored.

In schools where caning occurs, discipline is carried out weekly, usually on Fridays. The students are forced to queue up for their beating. In most cases, a boy will receive 2 to 5 strokes to a girl’s every 1.

The boys also complain that the teachers are nicer to the girls, show more patience, and are more likely to take the word of girls over that of boys when making accusations. I have witnessed how this differential treatment negatively affects some of the boys in our program and, in a few cases, left them toying with the idea of dropping out.

Inclusive Education: Shaking Things Up

It’s time to shake things up and make schools genuinely inclusive spaces. Teachers, decision-makers, and international education organizations must take responsibility for recognizing and creating environments where every boy feels he belongs and is safe.

Our boys deserve better.

The global education community can no longer turn a blind eye to the struggles of the boy child! They must stop shrugging off boys’ challenges, acknowledge their hurdles, and make changes.

Let’s hustle, folks! Time is going!

And we, as boy advocates, must stand up and demand that measures be implemented to ensure that no boy is left behind in pursuing equitable and inclusive education.

The Harsh Reality: Future Failures

A man who struggles to secure employment perpetuates a cycle of poverty.

One who cannot make informed decisions about his health perpetuates a cycle of ill-being.

An uneducated boy is destined to grow into a man ill-equipped to navigate life’s challenges.

An unemployable male youth unable to provide financially for his children produced out of wedlock will ultimately desert his children.

A man lacking self-respect, burdened with anger issues due to not being able to live up to societal expectations, could quickly turn to violence.

Or a starving young man whose life is thrown away due to incarceration for stealing something to eat.

It is imperative to recognize that excluding boys from the educational narrative sets the stage for their future failures.

Call to Action: Advocate, Demand Change, Become a Sponsor

Society must break free from stereotypes, ease up on the pressure, and make education a space where every boy can thrive, regardless of their background. Embrace an approach that celebrates the diverse needs of boys, setting them up for success in school and beyond.

Share your thoughts, experiences, or this post with someone who needs to hear it. In the fight for education, it’s essential to champion the cause for both boys and girls to ensure a fair and equal society in which both men and women can thrive.

Advocate for inclusive education practices—demand Change. Become a Sponsor.

Here’s a chance to make a direct impact: consider becoming a sponsor for a former street boy in the Shule Foundation program. For just $50 a month, you can contribute to transforming a life and providing education to a boy who deserves a chance. Shule currently has 7 boys in need of support.

Click here to learn more and start your journey as a sponsor. After all, an educated boy becomes a better man, father, and citizen. Let’s make it happen together!