Meet the researcher: Jane Magaya - Exploring the education experiences of marginalised girls in Zimbabwe

Jane Magaya is a PhD candidate interested in girls’ education and social justice. Her work explores the education experiences of marginalised girls in Zimbabwe.

What is your doctoral research about?

My research is about exploring the education experiences and agency of girls who are characterised as ‘marginalised’ using a case study of girls in Zimbabwe. The research is in alignment with World Vision’s recently ended Improving Gender Attitudes and Transition in Education (IGATE) project - funded by FCDO’s Girls Education Challenge (GEC), which was being conducted in Zimbabwe. The IGATE project sought to improve the education outcomes and lives of ‘marginalised’ girls through literacy, numeracy, and vocational training.

The girls in my study are out of school girls who participated in vocational training through IGATE. My research analyses their experiences from when they were in school, when they dropped out of school, up to vocational training and internship. Girls’ values and what they can or cannot do to achieve those things is central to this study.  My study is a qualitative study, with a narrative case study design where I analyse the girls’ narratives to understand their lives and education experiences and how they exercise agency in their education experiences. 

Why do you think this topic is relevant?

Many programmes that are designed to improve the lives and education of these girls are designed in the Global North by big international outfits, often driven by large statistics and surveys with inadequate understandings of what happens in the local context. International conceptualisations of what marginalisation means and what these girls need seems to be decided by other people and not themselves. Girls’ perspectives about their own lives are often assumed and their characterisation as ‘marginalised’ potentially undermines their agency. 

My research seeks to give voice to the girls themselves, by placing emphasis on their narratives about their own lives. The realities of the girls’ lives are multiple and influenced by various socioeconomic factors. International programmes need to be constantly informed by localised knowledge, especially considering evolving times, so that the girls’ agency i.e., their ability to decide and act on what they value, can be strengthened. Understanding the realities of girls’ lives, who the ‘marginalised’ girls being recruited onto these programmes are, and how they exercise agency within their context, could contribute to improving the design and implementation of these programmes within local contexts. This is the output of my study and I hope it contributes to understanding and strengthening of girls’ agency.  

Why did you decide to join the Centre for the Study of Global Development?

I believe that I have important knowledge to contribute to the Centre through my study including the research skills I have acquired in my research journey. For example, creatively conducting research with people in poverty settings remotely, during a pandemic, as it was in my case. Likewise, I feel that I can benefit from connecting with other members of the Centre, including junior and senior researchers. I am also looking forward to doing some collaborative work in the future. 

What would be your advice to future doctoral students?

It’s important to keep in sight why you’re doing a PhD and the anticipated outcome from a PhD. This is what will cement your resolve and carry you through the ups and downs in the journey to achieving it. It’s not impossible, it can be done.

Find out more about Jane Magaya and her research.

This interview was conducted by Motunrayo Oladeji.