Girl Child Education: Rising to the Challenge

Abstract

Northern Nigeria‟s high gender inequity in education places the majority of young girls at a severe disadvantage. This cross-sectional study examined enrolment, dropout, and primary school completion rates in three communities in Kaduna State. Less than half of young people (6 – 25 years) living in northern Nigeria are currently enrolled in school and the majority of students are males (60%). This study‟s findings indicate there are nearly twice as many boys graduating from primary school as compared to girls, and the dropout rate for boys is close to half (3%) of the dropout rate for girls (5.4%). Sustained imputs are needed to boost female enrolment in junior secondary schools, create girl-friendly school environments, and to better enable communities to understand the value of girls' education (Afr. J. Reprod. Health 2010; 14[3]: 107-112).

Key words: Girl child education, school enrolment, retention, gender parity, maternal mortality, northern Nigeria.