UNICEF laments low girl-child enrolment in Katsina State

The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over low enrolment of the girl-child into public schools in Katsina state.

The state UNICEF field officer, Mrs. Padimah Yedla who disclosed this during a meeting with officials of Schools Based Management Committees (SBMC) however attributed the development to the cost of education and long distance of schools to where the girl-child resides.

Represented by UNICEF education specialist, Muntaka Muhtar; the field officer added that the insistence of some parents to enroll their wards into integrated Qur’anic schools instead of western education also contributed to the poor enrolment.

She noted that the current enrolment figure of N1.4 million children into public schools for 2015/2016 was not encouraging, saying urgent steps must be taken to address the trend.

While soliciting the support of the SBMC in the task of effecting a positive change, the UNICEF official said, “We cannot work alone; we want your input and encouragement to improve girl’s enrolment as well as access to quality education. We need your support to achieve the enrolment of 207, 138 girls into the schools for the year 2017”.

She added that the girl-child project in the state, founded by DFID and UNICEF, would help improve enrolment of girls in the six local government areas of Faskari, Basari, Baure, Kankia, Kankara and Rimi.

Earlier, chairperson, “High level women advocacy”, Mrs. Maria Abdullahi called on husbands to encourage their wives to contribute to decision making concerning the education of their wards.