The Federal Government launched the National Policy on Gender in Education on Monday, and its implementation guide was recently authorized by the National Council on Education.
Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, delivered the document to stakeholders in Abuja as part of the current government’s political will to remove all impediments to girls and boys obtaining fundamental knowledge competences and vital skills to lead safe and productive lives.
The publication is a review of the Federal Ministry of Education’s National Policy on Basic Education, which was carried out in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and the World Bank.
Mr Sonny Echono, permanent secretary of the federal ministry of education, said yesterday at the launch in Abuja that the new National Policy on Gender in Education was a step in the right way because it cuts across all levels of education
He stated that it captures new challenges, cross-cutting issues, and much more, while pushing all sectors and states to adopt it as a tool to achieve not only gender equality and equity, but also the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2030 Agenda.
“You may be interested to know that FME has done a lot to improve access and retention in schools.” Despite these efforts, a considerable number of girls and boys remain absent from school, and we must all work together to guarantee that these children return,” Echono stated.
A UNICEF delegate, Saadhna Panday, expressed satisfaction with the policy’s implementation. She stated that there is a wealth of data on the benefits accruing to girls, women, and society when investments in girls’ education, particularly secondary school, are made.
“It greatly boosts the lifetime earnings of girl children; child death rates fall; and child stunting falls.” Although Nigeria has made tremendous progress in eliminating the gender gap in education, significant regional differences in enrolment, retention, and transition rates for females remain.
“High rates of poverty, safety and security concerns, gender prejudices, and social conventions and traditions, among other things, contribute to this.”
Source: Nigerian Tribune