Girl-child Education In Jigawa State: Challenges And Way Forward -By Naseer Tijjani

The importance of educating Girl-Child and by extension, the woman education cannot be over emphasized. An educated and empowered woman is an informed woman who can contribute meaningfully to the family and take care of her children and household in the most appropriate manner. These children would go into the society as responsible and useful individuals thereby making such a society a better place to live in for all.

I have always believed that any nation or state that appropriately addresses the challenges regarding women education is that country or state that has charted the course of greatness for herself. Indeed, the best form of empowerment is education.

Therefore, nothing can be considered too much for the education and empowerment of the women folk in any society. State integration in any nation, especially Jigawa can easily be enhanced when the girl-child or woman is educated and empowered.

Girl-Child education in the state has been undermined by the nonchalant attitude of parents towards the system. Despite the fact that the government is giving free education to the girls/women, the illiteracy rate is still high. Meanwhile, many of the young girls/women live in  poverty. Their parents cannot afford to pay for their uniforms, books and other things to satisfy their daily needs in the school and home. These and many more deter the girls from attending schools.

Government should make the Girl-Child education free and compulsory at primary and secondary levels and ensure free registration to those willing to attend higher institutions of learning.  Government should also engage in the practice of giving Girl-Child Education the highest allocation in the ministry of education’s budget and ensure its proper implementation . Parents should be sensitized on the significance of educating the girl-child right from primary to the higher level.

Government should  device means for assisting the girl-child financially to cater for their daily needs.