Kano State has recorded a rise in girl-child enrolment in schools, with girls now making up a larger percentage of learners at primary and secondary levels, the state government has said.
The development was disclosed at a community town hall meeting organised by Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI), with support from Malala Fund, to review progress and challenges affecting girls’ education in the state.
The Technical Adviser to Governor Abba Yusuf on Education Reform, Haladu Muhammad, said the latest annual school census revealed that girls constitute 52 per cent of pupils in primary schools, 56 per cent in junior secondary schools and 54 per cent in senior secondary schools.
Muhammad attributed the improvement to government interventions aimed at removing barriers limiting girls’ access to education.
He said the administration had reopened 13 girls’ boarding secondary schools shut by the previous government, established new junior and senior secondary schools, renovated existing facilities and recruited more teachers.
“We noticed there was a need to ensure that every girl who needs to go to school has a school to attend. We are taking schools closer to communities, especially in rural areas where distance has been a major challenge,” he said.
He added that the government had introduced free transportation for female students in the metropolitan area via more than 100 buses to reduce the risks associated with long-distance school journeys.
The government official further disclosed that 16,000 teachers had been recruited over the past two years, as part of efforts to address the shortage of teachers in public schools.
Speaking at the event, the Partnership Manager at Malala Fund Nigeria, Gbemisola Joel-Osoba, said the organisation was supporting local partners, such as BCAI, to work with communities, government, and students to improve girls’ education.
She said the state government’s adoption of the Gender Responsive Education Budgeting framework had helped direct resources towards improving girls’ access, retention, and completion of schooling.
“We are seeing increased enrolment of girls, but the focus now should be on keeping them in school and ensuring they complete their education,” she said.
The Executive Director of BCAI, Sani Mohammed, said the organisation was implementing the Bridges Access to Girls Education Project to ensure girls transition from junior secondary school to senior secondary school and complete their WAEC before pursuing further opportunities.
He called for improved school infrastructure, including girl-friendly toilets, sanitation facilities, security and reduced classroom congestion to sustain the gains recorded.
