Women group decries high rate of Out-of-School children in Katsina
High Level Women Advocate (HiLWA), an NGO, has decried the high rate of Out-Of-School children, school drop outs and Qur’anic school pupils not enrolled into the basic education system in Katsina State.
Hajia Mariya Abdullahi, HiLWA Chairperson, Katsina, stated this at a news conference, as part of activities lined up to commemorate the 2020 International Women’s Day on Tuesday, in Katsina.
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Abdullahi urged the state government and other stakeholders to intensify efforts towards ensuring that those categories of young persons were enrolled towards the realisation of the “Education for All’’ Goal.
“There should be more aggressive approach by key stakeholders through mobilisation, awareness creation and sensitisation for the integration of Qur’anic school students, school dropouts and other out of school children across the state,” she said.’’
She, however, acknowledged and appreciated efforts and support by the state government towards the girl-child enrollment, retention and completion.
The chairperson further acknowledged the determination of the Katsina State legislature to enact laws that would ensure free and compulsory education for all school age children across the state.
She also stressed the need for an increase in women participation in decision making and governance structure in the education sector at all levels.
Also speaking, Lydia Shehu, an External Resource Person, emphasised the importance of employing more qualified female teachers, who are good education managers, to serve as role models.
She noted that the development would also assist in making women self reliant to cater for their needs; thereby reducing the rampant cases of divorce in the society.
On her part, Rosemary Effiong, the Katsina Project Coordinator, Girls Education Project (GEP3), UNICEF, urged the government to formulate policies that would give women opportunities to contribute to the development of education in the state.
