Allow girls to finish school: Kidu

Girls should be allowed to complete school and achieve their goals in life first before getting married, says former Moresby South MP Dame Carol Kidu.
Speaking during the celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) at the flexible open and distance education (Fode) campus in Port Moresby on Friday, Dame Carol, pictured, said in order for the county to progress there should be a balance of gender in every sector.
“There should be a good number of women in government offices, private sector, education, health, sports and parliament,” she said.
IWD is celebrated around the world on March 8 but PNG women celebrated on March 24.
It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements in national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political sectors.
In line with IWD, Papua New Guinea set March 24 in the calendar to commemorate the day nationally.
It is a day when women are recognised for their contributions, whether big or small, in shaping the country.
Dame Carol encouraged the female Fode students to finish their secondary education.
She encouraged them to go to university or college and get a qualification before getting married.
Dame Carol said getting married should not be the destination for girls.
She said marriage was not bad, however, female students had to make education their priority.
Fode principal Anthony Rayappan said in the past, in many countries, women were merely seen as home makers but this was changing.
He stressed the theme of 2019 IWD, “balance for better”.
Rayappan said women should be seen as equal partners in nation building.
He said more women were are enrolling in Fode centres nationwide and commended women for choosing education.