Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The Bauchi High Level Women Advocates (HILWA) has observed with concern the inadequate number of female teachers in schools especially in rural areas in Bauchi State, saying it was hindering the education of the girl child in the state.
Chairperson of HILWA, Hon. Maryam Bagel stated this during a commemoration of the International Day of Girl Child organised by HILWA in collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and UNICEF with a theme ‘Girls Progress Equal Goals Progress’ held in Bauchi recently.
Bagel, who is also the only female member in Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) lamented that primary school female teachers constitute only 30 per cent of the total number of teachers in the state.
According to her, “The current Nigeria Education Data Survey (NEDS) 2015 shows that the number of rural females without any form of schooling in the country is put at 49 per cent”.
“In many cases, families cannot cater for the education of all the children in the household, giving room for preference in selecting those qualifies for school patriarchal system encourages make preference in education,” she said.
She expressed regret that discrimination against girls’ education persists in Bauchi State because of customary attitudes, child marriages, religious misconception, inadequate and gender biased teaching, educational materials and lack of adequate, accessible schooling facilities.
The HILWA leader also observed that girls’ school enrollment figures in the state has continued to attest to below average enrolment, retention and completion leading up to the junior secondary and senior secondary levels.
While commending the contributions of UNICEF and other development partners to promote girls education in the state, Hon. Bagel called for more concerted action by all stakeholders to address the issues that are hindering girls’ education in Bauchi state.
In his remark, UNICEF Chief of Field Office Bauchi, Abdulai Kaikai, said there is increase of 5 per cent of girls’ enrollment in the state from 2015 till date.
He commended the state government for its effort in supporting girl child education and called for the support of all stakeholders to ensure that all girls are educated in the state.
