Child marriage and school: what a girl loses when she leaves the classroom
School gives a girl more than lessons. It gives her friends, confidence and a path to the future. Child marriage often takes all of this away.
Why married girls leave school
A girl who is married young is often expected to run a home and care for a family. There is little time or support left for learning. Some schools and communities also do not welcome married girls back to class.
What she loses
- Knowledge and skills that help her find work and earn an income.
- Friends and teachers who notice when something is wrong.
- Confidence to make her own choices and speak up for herself.
- Information about her health and her rights.
A loss for everyone
When a girl leaves school early, her family and her community lose too. An educated woman can support her children's learning, contribute to the local economy and take part in public life.
How education protects girls
Keeping girls in school is one of the best protections against early marriage. A girl who is learning has a reason, and a right, to wait. Her family can see a future for her beyond marriage.
Communities can help by making schools safe, by supporting families who struggle with costs, and by welcoming back girls who had to leave.
Every girl deserves to finish her education before any decision about marriage.