CHAINAMA Hills Hospital has identified neglect and attention deficiency as significant contributors to the decreasing enrolment of boys in schools.
According to the hospital, mental health issues, particularly attention deficiency, play a crucial role in the decreasing attendance of boy children in classrooms.
This follows a statement issued by the Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima, who stated that, statistically, more girls than boys participated in grade 12 examinations last year.
The figures indicated that 49.40 percent of the candidates were boys, while 50.60 percent were girls.
The hospital which actively advocates for mental health, has suggested that implementing mental health programs in schools could be a crucial intervention to encourage more boys to stay in school.
Hospital spokesperson George Tafuna, attributed the reluctance of boys to attend school to attention-seeking behavior.
Dr Tafuna said the current focus on educating girl children has left some boys feeling neglected, leading to a decline in their attendance.
He called for increased parental care and attention for boys, emphasizing that some turn to negative behaviors to cope with attention deficiency.
Dr Tafuna pointed out the need for a balanced approach, with equal advocacy for both genders, and urged the introduction of mental health programs in schools.
He also noted that a significant number of boys aged between 13 and 15 years are being admitted to Chainama Hills Hospital for drug and substance abuse issues.
Dr Tafuna stressed the importance of interventions to address the underlying mental health challenges faced by these boys.
“The problem today is that we do not have many organisations advocating for the boy child as much as they are doing for the girl child. We need a system in which both genders are looked after. We need more programs also in mental health being introduced in schools. It is why we have been advocating for children and adolescent mental clinics in the country,” he said.
Dr Tafuna told Mwebantu in an interview that the Ministry of Education should look into interventions with stakeholders to address the matter.
“Sometimes you find a system where the boy child is left at home by both parents who work and expect him to go to school. But because of lack of attention, they abscond and divert to do other illicit things such as drug abuse. Some are even exposed to films which teach them how to commit offences, avoid school and also commit suicide. This is why we have less boy children taking interest in school,” he suggested.
(Mwebantu, Saturday, 27th January, 2024)
