Federal Government To Establish Girls' Model Schools

In line with its drive to address the high rate of girls who are out of school, the Federal Government has embarked on the construction of Girls Model Secondary Schools in 13 states of the Federation.

Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, represented by his Special Assistant, Lambert Opara, disclosed this at a one day "Dissemination Workshop of the Transforming Education for Girls in Nigeria (TEGIN) project" and the public presentation of "A Girls Club Manual" organized by the ActionAid Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.

He mentioned that government is building the special body schools with well-equipped facilities to encourage young girls to concentrate on their studies.

His words "Quality education remains one of the pillars of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan administration. Education remains the gateway that makes all other development process possible. Any development therefore not premised on sound education foundation cannot be sustained. That is why Mr. President is pulling efforts towards ensuring that the nation gets not just education but a qualitative education system through the provision of basic infrastructure deficient in our schools" he said.

While the event was also used to launch the TEGIN research report, he maintained that the Ministry of Education is undertaking a review of 9-years Basic Education curriculum to reflect national development goals as part of effort to address the high number of out-of-school children especially girls in northern parts of the country.

He said, "The economic benefit of training female children are many. Apart from managing her home better, an educated girl is an asset to the society. As a mother she steps down her knowledge onto the children".

Country Director ActionAid Nigeria, Hussaini Abdul said the project is a special initiative to transform the education of girls in northern Nigeria by enabling them to enroll and succeed in schools. The model school according to him would address the key challenges that hinder their participations in education and increase their vulnerability to gender violence and HIV/AIDS.

With success already being recorded through improvement in enrolment, retention and completion of girls schooling in eight northern Nigeria States, he expressed optimism that there would be massive enrolment of girls in schools at the end of the project.

"Establishing Girls Clubs in primary Schools in the project State is a critical output of the TEGIN project. The clubs are an avenue to empower girls and build their confidence to speak out about the quality of education they are receiving"