The Girl Child and Education
The Boko Haram crisis only worsened an already desperate situation in the North East. Their activities has has severely hampered access to education in the region central to the most basic needs facing the girl child.
Education is a human right that should be given to human beings. A lot of Human Right Instruments provides for education as a Fundamental Human Right. Education is a lay index to development.
The National Child Welfare Policy (1989) defines a girl-child as as a person below 14years, Offorma (2009) defines a girl-child as a biological female offspring from birth to 18years of age.
Education is the process of providing information to a person to help him/her develop mentally, socially, emotionally, spiritually, politically and emotionally.(Offorma (2009).
Aside the most basic problem facing the girl child, is her access to qualitative information amongst the unequal treatment of boys &girls in Nigeria’s education system. Schooling improves productivity, health and reduces negative features of life such as child labour, marriage, poverty, teen pregnancy, material mortality rates, and cultural barrierse. Most girls do not have access to education despite the fact that it is their right.
The girl child is always saddled with the responsibilities which may make her not to have access to quality education. Patriarchy connotes “male rule” where the family and entire social system is centred around the man who has absolute authority over women, children, dependents and property.
The girl is usually conditioned to look after the young ones, the home, kitchen and taught to be obedient and to internalise the notion that she is someone’s property and responsibility. The gender apartheid places the girl child in a disadvantage position. Her potentials are suppressed and self actualization is not achievable.
According to UNICEF,(2007) girls right does not only bring about immediate benefit but is seen as the best investment in a country’s development. Education helps girls develop life skills including self confidence, ability to participate effectively in society and protect themselves from sexual exploitation.
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