The Malala Fund’s Education Champion Network (ECN) has called for a minimum of 15 per cent capital expenditure in the budgetary allocation for girl-child education in Kano State to improve the learning environment for girls.

In addition to increased funding, the ECN advocated the recruitment of more female teachers, provision of sanitary facilities, and the creation of a safe school environment to encourage girl-child enrolment in public schools across the state.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on girl-child education financing in Kano, ECN Project Policy and Research Analyst, Ibukunolu James, said available data indicated that less than five per cent had been allocated to capital expenditure for girl-child education in the state since 2023.

James explained that the ECN project, under the Malala Fund and BudgIT, is undertaking advocacy engagements with critical stakeholders to influence government policies that support and improve girl-child education in the state.

She emphasized that the project focuses on mobilizing community and religious leaders to champion the provision of infrastructure and educational materials that would encourage the enrolment of girls in schools across Kano.

“We are here to discuss girl-child education in Kano and how the government can move from allocation to implementation by increasing budgetary allocation for girl-child education funding to a minimum of 15 per cent capital expenditure.

“The essence of today’s engagement meeting is to interact with stakeholders who influence government policies in order to make the dreams of an average girl willing to attend school come true. This includes encouraging the provision of infrastructure such as classrooms, safe learning environments, sanitary facilities for girls, and ensuring that every community has access to a school.

“We also expect stakeholders to create awareness about these demands and needs in our schools because, many times, the government may not be fully aware that financing for girl-child education is inadequate.

“After this meeting, we will engage School-Based Management Committees, hold town hall meetings, and consult other stakeholders in the education sector to actualise the dream of girl-child education,” James said.

In her remarks, the Head of Research and Policy Advisory, Adejoke Akinbode, explained that the ECN project, being implemented in Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Oyo states, tracks the impact and accountability of budget allocations for girl-child education.

Akinbode noted that the project focuses on promoting gender-responsive education financing and seeking legislative support for the formulation of policies that strengthen girl-child education.

According to her, the project also mobilises support to break barriers preventing girls from attending school, particularly teenagers in rural communities, conflict-affected areas, and those hindered by pregnancy or early marriage.

Participants at the engagement meeting include traditional and community leaders, representatives of religious groups, senior public servants, and other critical stakeholders unanimously agreed to support the push for the actualize of quality education for girl child in Kano State.