By Emma Nnanna
Six out of the 36 states in the Federation were said by a non-governmental organisation to be the beneficiaries of the ongoing girl child education programme in the country.
The organisation known as the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, CSACEFA, made this known on Tuesday in Abakaliki town.
The NGO lamented has non-existence of the policy or law that promotes the girl-child education in Ebonyi State.
It expressed readiness to implement an education-based programme in the six states, including Ebonyi with support from Global Partnership for Education (GEP) till the end of 2021.
Speaking during a media engagement in Abakaliki, the South East Zonal Coordinator of CSACEFA, Elder Godwin Arua noted that the absence of such policy or law had accounted for the low enrollment ratio of the girl-child into various schools in the states.
Arua who stressed the need for the education of the girl-child in every home in the state, added that the NGO was working towards developing a bill, which would be sent to the State House of Assembly to engender the education of the girl-child in the states.
"The states to benefit from this education-based programme include Kastina, Oyo, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Benue and Cross Rivers. GPE has interest in the girl-child education. We are working towards formulating a Bill that promotes the education of the girl-child. There is no law or policy in Ebonyi that promotes the girl child education", he said.
In her remarks, the Ebonyi State Coordinator of CSACEFA, Princess Frances Mgbada agreed that poverty, ignorance, religion, negative cultural practices, family background, peer group influence were some of the factors militating against the education of the girl-child in the State.
She added that the NGO would collaborate with the state government, NGOs, LGAs, Institutions and spirited individuals towards tackling the challenges facing the education of the girl-child in the state.
According to her, inclusion of women in governance, change in cultural practices, advocacies, enlightenment, free education for the girl-child, creation of a department in the Ministry of Education to monitor and evaluate the enrollment of girls in schools, among others would help reverse the ugly trend affecting the girl-child education.
"The education of the girl-child cannot be overemphasized. it's a major issue. We have visited Ministries and MDAs. The House of Assembly encouraged us. A process is on to ensure that there is a bill that will encourage the girl child education. We would like to sponsor a Bill that will finally form a policy. No State has a policy on girl child education.
"Unfortunately, the enrollment of girls drops as they progress into different stages in school. Education should be completely free to enhance the education of the girl child."
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