Focus on degrees, female students told

By GABRIEL FITO
YANGORU-Saussia MP Richard Maru has challenged girls to forget about becoming housewives after completing Grade 10 and Grade 12 and focus on education to be successful in life.
Speaking at the Yangoru Secondary School’s 35th Grade 10 and 4th Grade 12 graduation on Wednesday, Maru said girls should start thinking about getting a degree through the formal system of education or enrol at university centres in the district starting next February. 
“The government has now given equal opportunity for males and females to achieve a quality education,” he said.
“I, therefore, encourage girls in the district to make use of this opportunity and strive for academic excellence.
“Parents should not discriminate between sexes when deciding on the education of your children because men and women are equal partners in development and should have equal rights to resources and services provided by the state.”
Maru, the Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, urged parents to change their mindset that girls belonged to the kitchen with their mothers.
He said girls should be given the opportunity to become the breadwinner of the family.
He told the students that the hard part of their tertiary education was just beginning, a process that could take up to four years to complete.
“Obey your parents, study hard, set a goal and you will succeed in life,” Maru told the 90 graduating students.
“Nothing in this world is free; the government is only providing a tuition fee free education so be prepared to sacrifice for the sake of your children’s education and future.