EDUCATION OF THE GIRL CHILD IN NIGERIA

Imagine your life today without an education. Imagine you in a world where you do not
have the right to go to school, not even a choice to consider education. What you are about
to read is the experience of so many girls living in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern
region. Many girls in the Northern region of Nigeria do not have the right to choose
education.

Education is one of the best ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and every
child has the right to basic education.

Many girls marry before the age of 16, frequently

against their will and become pregnant long
before their body is ready for it. As a result of this
early marriage, they are unable to continue with
their schooling even the very elementary
education. As a matter of fact, some cultures
allow girls to get married from the age of 8 which is why girls in the Northern region account
for the highest rate of Vascular Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) in Nigeria.

In the past, education has not necessarily been a priority for the girl-child because of
cultural beliefs, poverty and so on. Its not surprising because, particularly in the Northern
part of Nigeria, educating the girl child isnt part of the culture, so girls are not allowed to
choose education, neither are they encouraged to go to school. It is believed that the place
of the girl child is in her husbands house. Why educate her when they say they education of
a woman ends in the Kitchen, but is this true?

Once married, girls are unlikely to return to school due to the weight of household chores
and childcare. Husbands may limit their freedom or threaten them with violence if they
disobey. And once pregnant, many girls hopes for an education come to an end.

It is unfortunate that the society we live in today is very gender bias. Frankly speaking, we
are leaving in a mans world. Right from when a woman conceives, family members begin
to wish her a male child and if she does give birth to a boy people will congratulate her and

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most of them will say to her it is now we know you are married and to the husband, now
you are a man. And if it is a girl the woman gives birth to, few people rejoices with her
especially if it is not her first daughter and if has all her children as girls. While there are
many countries where little girls are cherished, loved, cared for and celebrated, the vast
majority of girls live in countries where this is not so.

In some cases, less importance is attached to a female right from birth that is why her
education is also taken with less seriousness. For instance, in most rural homes and some
urban ones of course if food or anything in the home is shared the male children are asked
to pick before their female counterparts even if the female children are older than the male
children. While the male child has a choice to attend school, the female is strictly
discouraged from pursuing even the basic elementary western education. Her ambitions are
domesticated, tied to the apron strings of culture and religion. The challenge is to attain
gender parity while still ensuring that all children go to school.

Until now, its been challenging to implement programmes that will enhance education of
girls and women in the Northern region -particularly in rural communities, since they are
not at liberty to get an education. However, things are changing. The Child Rights Act has
been passed into law in some states but a lot still needs to be done.
Even though there are other states in Nigeria where girl-child education is still not a priority,
other State Governments and Local Government Chairmen could emulate this and push for
free education for all, irrespective of gender.

ActionAID International discovered in a research they carried and presented in a report, that
there was gap in favour of boys in school enrolment, retention and completion in most
northern states in Nigeria."The study on girls education revealed factors affecting girls
education as cost of education, school environment, government policies and the culture of
the people amongst others. There are no policies that specifically address gender issues
thereby leaving room for the gender gap." See more on this link:
www.amplifyyourvoice.org/u/kiki/2010/3/10/girl-child

The unique and far-reaching benefits of educating the girl-child include the proven fact that
educating her is the best investment for societal development. The short and long term
benefits to girls are based on the evidence that educated girls develop essential life skills,
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including self confidence, the ability to participate effectively in society and protect
themselves from HIV/AIDS infection, sexual exploitation and pressures for early marriage
and childbirth.

But, experience has shown that there can be no significant, sustainable transformation of
the nation and no significant reduction in poverty until the girl-child receive basic education
she needs to take her rightful place as equal partner in development. This is why for every
nation that seeks development, education of the citizenry is a serious business. Given this
scenario, Nigeria ought to be one of the serious nations that should be at the fore front of
the quest to give their citizenry education preparatory to getting them contribute to the
development process.

Girls need a safe and supportive environment, free from

abuse, with separate toilet facilities, safe drinking water,
equal attention with boys and a gender sensitive
curriculum. The school curriculum also needs to be
revisited, to ensure gender and cultural sensitivity and
to include life skills, HIV/AIDS education, education on
sexuality, citizenship and conflict resolution. According
to UNICEF records, many states in Nigeria have
developed their own Child Friendly School through strategic plans for Universal Basic
Education.

MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BY EVERY ONE;

The time is now and every one could be involved in the campaign for the education of the
girl child.

Do not despise your little contribution; you can start by sensitizing your neighbours,
people in your community and members of your Church on the importance of
educating the girl child.
Report to the authorities any parent that withdraws his daughter from school with a
view to giving her out in marriage.

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 Let us all join in calling on governments to stamp out forced child marriage and
provide effective protective systems for girls.

I anticipate that one day; a girls value to society can be recognized and supported, enabled
and empowered.

According to Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary General, There is no tool for
development more effective than the education of girls. No other policy is as likely to raise
economic productivity, lower infant and maternal mortality, improve nutrition and promote
health including helping to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

WHAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO;

Provide scholarships for girls at all levels of their education and provide incentives to
parents to keep their girls in schools.
Expand the mandate of school teachers to create equal opportunities for girls to
learn and to become Teachers and mentors for other girls.
Increase significantly the number of women in Government and all professions so as
to encourage parents to send their daughters to school.

When we start taking education seriously, we will contribute to the attainment of two of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); achieving universal primary education and the
elimination of gender disparities in education at all levels by 2015. As we seek to attain the
Millennium Development Goals, education will continue to play a pivotal role in the
development of young women and society at large. Remember, when you educate a
woman, you educate a home, and in turn society will be better for it.

Photographs in the article are credit of PRAXIS (Institute for Participatory Practice) and the Timeless Newspaper, Nigeria.

Written by:
Mary James,
SHARING EDUCATION AND LEARNING FOR LIFE (SELL) PROGRAMME

Contact us on the following Addresses:

Youth Formation Centre, Off Sunday Awoniyi Road New GRA. P.O.BOX 1483 Bauchi, Bauchi State
Nigeria.
TEL: +2348033542630 / +2347054788824
Email: sharingedlearning4life@yahoo.co.uk Website: sharingeducationlearningforlife.org

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