Parents in Katsina Advocate for Free Transport to Boost Female Student Enrollment; Parents call on the government to provide free transportation for female students in Katsina State, citing distance as a barrier to education.
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In Katsina State, concerned parents have voiced their appeal for the government to establish a free transport system for female students across the state. They believe that such a transport system would serve as a catalyst for increasing girl-child enrollment in primary schools and facilitating their transition to secondary education.
These pleas were articulated during a transition commitment town hall meeting conducted in the Katsina Local Government Area (LGA) on Saturday. Speaking on behalf of the parents, Musa Lawal noted that geographical distance is one of the primary factors hindering parents, particularly in rural areas, from sending their daughters to school. He emphasized the urgent need for the government to provide a free transportation system, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the recent removal of fuel subsidies.
Mr. Lawal expressed gratitude to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for their support in enhancing the enrollment and transition of female students to secondary schools. He also encouraged fellow parents to recognize that embracing Western education does not preclude their children from attending Islamic schools but can contribute to their well-rounded development and interactions.
Parents highlighted several challenges, including inadequate learning materials, classrooms, and qualified teachers, which have deterred them from sending their children to school. They underscored the importance of parental involvement in their children’s lives, emphasizing that many parents nowadays are not sufficiently concerned about their children’s activities and social circles.
Furthermore, community members were urged to collaborate with the government to support local schools rather than solely relying on government intervention.
Ngozi Izuara-Songu, an adolescent specialist with the UNICEF Lagos field office, reported significant progress in their efforts to facilitate the transition of girls to secondary schools in Katsina. Out of their target of 5,450 girls, over 50 percent successfully transitioned. She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working alongside the government to further enhance girl-child enrollment, transition, and completion rates in education.
These transition commitment meetings, which bring together primary six girls, parents, and guardians across six LGAs, have yielded promising outcomes. They aim to assess challenges and propose solutions to obstacles preventing girls from transitioning to junior secondary schools, thereby fostering an environment conducive to effective learning and educational advancement.
Halimatu Umar, the education secretary of Katsina LGA, lauded this initiative and pledged to increase the representation of female teachers in girls’ schools throughout the state. This step is expected to further encourage parents to enroll their children in school and promote greater focus and participation among female students during classes.
