Zamfara girls’ child enrollment improves tremendously—Commissioner
The girls’ child enrollment into schools in Zamfara State has increased from 18.9 to 36.7 percent, the State’s Commissioner of Education, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi disclosed this at the passing out of 33 girls who graduated from Command Girls’ Science Secondary School, Gusau.
The commissioner said the success was as a result of the State government’s policy of girls’ enrollment in schools.
“Before the present administration, the statistics of girls’ child enrollment in primary and secondary schools was very low. In fact it is on average of 18.9 percent as of 2018.
“Considering girls’ child education as global policy, Governor Matawalle introduced girls’ child enrollment policy to improve their enrollment in the State.
“I am happy to inform this gathering that the enrollment of girls into primary, basic and secondary schools in the State now is at 36.7 percent.
“The State ministry of education worked with the State House of Assembly to provide laws to encourage girls’ child education in the State.
“Recently, the Assembly passed a law prohibiting girls’ hawking during school hours, this is to encourage girls to be in school,’’ he added.
The commissioner said that another important achievement in this regard was the “back to school programme” initiated in collaboration with UNICEF, Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), State’s Ministry of Education and State’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
“These programmes are providing empowerment support to children whose parents are at low economic level with school uniform, learning and writing materials to encourage them to participate in school,’’ he explained.
Earlier, in a welcome address, the Commandant of the School, Maj. Vivian Okobu said the event was organised to honor the graduating students and give them the opportunity to interact with senior military officers and other stakeholders.
“We believe that having underwent academic and moral training in this institution, l can say that these girls can compete with their peers anywhere in academic performance in line with global best practices,’’ she said.
