For example, Ethiopia, which is home to an estimated 2.6 million 10-year-olds, half of whom are girls, has a gender parity index of 0.6 for secondary school, a marked decline from parity in primary school. In addition to shouldering the burden of unpaid work, such as household chores, many 10-year-old girls and older adolescents also work in family enterprises or wage-earning activities. These responsibilities invariably mean less time for schoolwork, place them at risk, and may contribute to their dropping out of school.