Why parent are the principal instigators of the girl-child drop out of school -By Umar Hassan Muhammed

One of the major goals to reform in education is to provide opportunities for every child to participate and learn maximally irrespective of sex, social background and ability. Education for both girls and boys is an essential tool for individual and national development. Still, education has been identified as one of the key which opens up avenue for girl child to better their future income, employment opportunities and better care of the society.

In June 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari gave directives to state government to enforce what is call vigorously” free compulsory basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age. This means parents who failed to enroll their children in school up to junior secondary would be arrested and prosecuted as provided by the law. The universal Basic education act of 2004, provided in section 2(2) of the law that Every parent will ensure that is child be or ward attend s and complete his (a) primary school education; and(b) junior secondary school education, by endeavoring to send the child to primary and junior secondary school.

Similarly, section 4 of the law says: A parents who contravenes section 2(2) of this act commit an offence and is liable (a) on first conviction, to be reprimanded;(b) on second conviction, to a fine of N300 and (c) on subsequent conviction to a fine of N5, 000 or imprisonment for a term of two months or to both.

However, despite this directives it appears a good number of children, most especially girl child are still out of school for reasons related to gender imbalance, domestic demand, traditional and religious practices, safety; lack of encouragement from the parent, lack of materials for schooling, very often, the parents of these children also lack support. These have contributed to denying girl child access to education.

Also, low socio-economic status of some household has largely pushed parent to indulge their children into street hawk, and the most vulnerable amongst this devastating effects, are the girl-child, parental poverty has also pose serious threat to a girl- child education, especially among rural population in Nigeria.

In addition, parent from rural population believes that girl-child education is not important compare to male child; therefore, such parents prefer to send the girl-child to street hawk rather than enrolling them in school. This pervasiveness of street hawking in Nigeria has been a great concern to all and sundry, this street hawking has consistently left the female population vulnerable to emotional disorder, Motor accident, kidnapping, extortion, rape, trafficking, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections
I know a girl-child, who told me that since her childhood she has never enjoy her right of education from her parent, and that she has always dream to go school but her will not allow her since when I was born, I have never been to school, and I want to see myself in school with the other student, anytime I told my parent that I want to go to school, their will me tell that their don’t have money to send me to school, that is why am selling food on the street of karmo market”.

Also, a source who prefer anonymity, said that the father of the girl in question, virtually has four wives and 20 children and none of these children enjoyed their rights of education from their parents. In view of the above, government should make it mandatory and sanction any Parenthood that disallowed children of tender age to receive formal education as enshrined in the constitution. Also, government should make basic education less costly for child of schools age population by giving out scholarship to encourage families to allows girl child receive formal education.

Indeed, education is important for girl child especially at this present time, rather than sending girl-child to street hawk parents should endeavor to encourage their children by enrolling them in school, this will empower the child with knowledge and skills to be an active participant in the nation building.

Umar Hassan Muhammed
Fresh graduate, department of mass communication
Ahmadu Bello University ,Zaria
Email;hassanumar2014@gmail.com (09091591589)