Hoping 2015 would be better for girl-child education

Numerous factors of course, hamper the campaign to send more girls to school.  As we ended the year 2014 yesterday and begin another year today, it is important to discuss this sensitive issue in order to awaken our sensibilities to the plight of millions of Nigerian girls that are still out of school, hoping that […]

Numerous factors of course, hamper the campaign to send more girls to school.  
As we ended the year 2014 yesterday and begin another year today, it is important to discuss this sensitive issue in order to awaken our sensibilities to the plight of millions of Nigerian girls that are still out of school, hoping that the authorities will be alerted.
Causes for the negligence of the girl-child education include ignorance and illiteracy of the parents. When the parents are illiterate and ignorant, they would find it difficult to send their girl-child to school.
Culture is another factor that contributes to the poor rate of girl-child education in the country. Some parents believe that it is a waste of resources to educate the girl-child because she would one day be married to someone else.
The question, however, is: why do we allow this disparity to exist between the young boys and girls?
It is unequivocal that educated women understand better the needs of the family. They never send their children to work during school hours. Rather, they struggle for their education in good schools.
An educated mother knows what is good for her kids and how they should be brought up. Thus, an educated mother promotes education for all children without discrimination.
As a way of encouraging girl-child education for national development, government should support this campaign through adequate sensitisation, especially at the grassroots level.
The Child Right Act should be implemented in all the states. This would go a long way in checkmating indiscriminate child abuse and gender disparity.
Fatima Musa Gwadebe is a 400level student of Mass Communication at BUK