The Ward Head of Sharada, Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Alhaji Ilyasu Mua’azu has observed that qualifying and entrance examinations have remained a hindrance to massive enrollment and completion of basic and tertiary education for girls in Kano state.
He regretted that majority of the girls do not have access to qualitative education and cannot also cope with qualifying examinations. He said this has led to many of them dropping out of school.
He spoke on Thursday during the dissemination of baseline survey findings in Nasarawa and Kano Municipal Local Government Areas, tagged: “Inclusive Action for Adolescent Girls Education in Kano state (I-AGE), organised by the Adolescent Health and Information Project (AHIP).
He called for the scrapping of qualifying examinations in Kano Secondary Schools. Alhaji Mua’azu maintained that qualifying examinations are the major factor militating against the girl-child education in Kano state.
He said, “In the olden days, we were given the opportunity to write mock examinations, which motivated students to redouble their efforts in exhibiting reading culture, and helped them come out in flying colors. But today, reverse is the case.”
Another Community Leader, Malam Suleiman Rabiu Kofar Nassarawa, supported Alhaji Mua’azu’s submission as he pointed out that most students drop out from their schools due to their inability to pass the qualifying examinations. He also lamented that there are parents who cannot afford to pay the examination fees.
In his presentation, the facilitator, Salisu Galadima said the programme focused on how to improve school retention and completion rate for adolescent girls in Kano State.
“This intervention seeks to improve school retention and completion rate for adolescent girls in Kano State, Nigeria through the deployment of the Gender Empowerment and Development Organising Resources (GEADOR) strategy for mobilising key stakeholders and resource for facilitating increased retention and completion rates in the target state”.
AHIP Programme Officer, Hajiya Amina Raji said, “Today’s event is designed to give feedback about findings from the baseline and accountability survey.
“The meeting will also identify already existing practices and strategies to partner with in communities to improve girl child retention and completion of their education.
“This will also ensure demonstration of accountability and strengthen partnerships with communities, CBO s and traditional institutions for additional support and resources.”
Inside Arewa reports that the survey conducted by I–AGE discovered that poverty contributes to about 90 per cent of student dropouts, especially among girls in secondary Schools in Nasarawa and Kano Municipal Local Government Areas.
Communities where the survey were carried out include Kawaji, Gwagwarwa, Gama,Tokarawa Gandun Albasa , Sharada and kofar Nassarawa.
All the participants expressed satisfaction with the survey, and urged government at all levels to expedite action to promote enrollment, retention and completion of girls’ education.
