A fair chance - United Nations Girls' Education Initiative

NigeriaIn order to forge ahead on EFA programmes whichaffect women and girls, it is recommended that:1.Funds from donor agencies are used judiciously forwhat they are intended. Activities and funding bydonor agencies should be properly integrated toachieve set goals through efficient networking.2.Construction of girl-friendly toilets in schools,increase extra curricular activities that will makeschool attractive for girls.3.The issue of financing education is fundamental toachieving the set goals of improving the educationalstatus of girls. There is a need to work closely withthe private sector and the International DevelopmentPartners to generate funding required for education.The growth rate in Nigeria’s population, compared tothe revenue, cannot possibly allow for theGovernment alone to fund the process, and this maycontinue to lead to the marginalisation of girls.4.The inspectorate departments at both Federal andState levels need to be overhauled if we are toexperience an increase in the enrolment andretention of girls in schools in Nigeria. Parents andguardians should be fully involved in girls’ educationinitiatives, particularly in rural communities so thattheir interest can be taken into consideration. InNorthern states, focus should be given to thepossibility of infusing western-style education intoquranic education, as this might be the onlyopportunity for some girls to receive an education inthat locality. This system has already been adopted instates such as Sokoto and Kebbi, with much successunder the National Commission for mass literacy.Most girls in these schools are between the ages of13 and 18.5.Teacher’s salaries must receive attention if they are togive maximum support to the process of deliveringquality education at all levels. There are too manyovercrowded classrooms. In Edo State, it was notedthat in most public primary schools there are fiveteachers each with a classroom of 100 pupils. Thereis absolutely no way a child can learn in such anenvironment. Parents would rather keep their girls athome than leave them to go and sit in classes wherethey can hardly learn. That is the prevailing situationin most public primary and secondary schools inNigeria.6.Parent/Teacher Associations and Old StudentAssociations are to be encouraged at both primaryand secondary school levels, with mothers’participation encouraged. Opportunities to beprovided for local people, particularly women andchildren, to contribute to developing local strategiesfor enhancing girls’/women’s participation.7.Women role models to visit schools, hold talks withgirls and have regular discussions with girls on peaceeducation, HIV/AIDS, and all other issues that willenlighten female students. These should be held asinformal sessions in all schools at primary andsecondary levels.8.States recording high dropout and decreasingenrolment rates of boys should be assisted. Thereshould be an accelerated campaign to communicatethe benefits of education to both parents and theirwards. (Anambra, Abia, Eboyin and most states inthe north where there is high prevalence ofAlmajiris).9.Existing laws forbidding early marriage andwithdrawals from school should be reviewed in orderto make them more enforceable, more practical andreal. The basic rights of girls should be promotedwith particular emphasis on their access rights toeducation.10.National Orientation Agency should take the lead inthe Enlightenment Campaign that should be taken toall urban and rural communities in Nigeria. Relevantjingles and other related materials are to be used forthe campaigns. The Media should be co-opted intothis campaign for a wider reach. Talk shows andcompetitions at community levels to be organised on64