Centre, Media unite to secure 12yrs free education for girls in Kaduna
The Centre for Girl-Child Education (CGE), through its new initiative, the ‘EmpowerHer Education’ project, has called on the media to advocate for the codification of 12 uninterrupted years of free, safe, and quality compulsory education for girls in Kaduna State.
According to a report shared on the Centre’s X account (@centre4girlsed), the ‘EmpowerHer Education’ project, funded by Co-Impact and the Malala Fund, seeks to transform societal norms and ensure that every girl in Kaduna State receives 12 years of uninterrupted, high-quality education. This initiative guarantees free and safe access to learning, aiming to secure a brighter future for girls through education.
While the Kaduna State Government has made commendable progress towards this goal, the policy is yet to be formalised into law. As a result, the CGE is seeking media collaboration to ensure this critical policy is codified, guaranteeing its full implementation and sustainability.
Recently, the CGE signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with seven media organisations, including the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), Nagarta Radio, Alheri Radio, Daily Trust, Blueprint, and Noblenews. These organisations have pledged their support to the ‘EmpowerHer Education’ project.
During an interactive session with journalists at CGE headquarters in Zaria, the Centre’s Executive Director, Hajiya Habiba Mohammed, emphasised the need to codify the policy into law to secure its future.
She commended the Kaduna State Government for enacting key legislations such as the 2016 Street Begging and Hawking (Prohibition) Law and the 2018 Child Welfare and Protection Law, which align with the Child Rights Act. These laws are designed to protect children, particularly girls, from abuse and exploitation.
However, Hajiya Habiba expressed hope that the process of codifying 12 years of free and compulsory education for girls would not face the delays that marred the passage of the Child Rights Act, which took 15 years of debate before it became law in the state.
She appealed to media stakeholders to use their platforms to advocate for the codification of this policy, saying, "One of the most significant tools to empower girls within their families and communities is education. Despite various national and international legal instruments, gender inequality in education persists, denying many girls access to this fundamental human right," Hajiya Habiba said.
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TOOLS TO EMPOWER GIRLS WITHIN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IS EDUCATION
Hajiya Habiba further encouraged the media to leverage their reach and expertise to create content that would fast-track the codification of the 12-year free, safe, and high-quality compulsory education policy. She also urged the media to collaborate with CGE in expanding the impact of the ‘EmpowerHer Education’ project, which aims to secure girls’ rights to education in Kaduna State.
Additionally, the project seeks to establish ‘Safe Spaces’ in primary schools across the state, where trained female teachers will lead after-school programs in literacy, mathematics, and gender equity. The CGE envisions a future where every girl completes 12 years of free, safe, and high-quality education.
“This vision also includes integrating life skills into the secondary school curriculum and implementing Gender-Responsive Education Sector Plans (GRESP) to promote gender equality in education. By cultivating a supportive and inclusive learning environment, the CGE aims to empower girls to become leaders who will drive positive change in both the education system and their communities.”
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