This series of Child-to-Child Readers focuses on the rights of the Girl Child. The stories encourage children to reflect on the way girls and boys are treated in their famalies and communities.
While full of exciting adventure, these stories reveal the problems and discrimination faced by many girls. The stories show what girls can achieve if they are given the same opportunities and treatment as their brothers. The Characters in these readers provide positive role models for both girls and boys, developing their confidence and self-esteem and demonstrating the importance of life skills, such as communication and critical thinking. A central theme for the series is the value of girls' education.
Can Betsy Stay at School? is a level 2 reader. It tells how Betsy has to stay at home to do the chores while her twin brother, Bob, remains in school. After several amusing episodes, the family finally realise that it is possible for Bob and Betsy to share the workload more equally at home and thereby both stay in school. This reader illustrates how boys as well as girls find it challenging to adapt their roles.
The Girl Child series can make a useful contribution to educational initiatives seeking to promote girls' performance and retention in school. They can also be used as support material for life skills programmes, in and out of school. The books are graded at two levels, intended for upper primary and lower secondary classes. The readers can be used as an integral part of a Social Studies or Environmental Science curriculum. They can also be used in Language and Literacy classes.
