Education: Nigeria Faces Challenges to Gender Parity in Basic Education

January 13, 2005 - (Vanguard - Lagos) Nigeria is a signatory to the international agreement reached on the elimination of gender disparities in primary and secondary education by the year 2005 which has just rolled in. This is sequel to achieving the target of education for all by 2015 which still remains a tall order for the Federal Government, even with ten years away.

The gender parity was part of the vision set out in the world declaration on education for all in Jomtien some years ago. It expressed the international community's collective commitment to pursue a broad-based approach for meeting the basic learning requirements of every child, youth and adult within a generation and sustained subsequently.

It was acknowledged that gender-based discrimination remained one of the major obstacles to realising the right to education. Limited progress has been made in raising the level of girls participation in basic education, even though education of girls and women is seen as having "a powerful trans-generational effect and a key determinant of social development and women's empowerment."

The agreement requires that gender issues be made an integral part of the education system, supported by adequate allocation of funds and strong political commitment.

"Merely ensuring access to education for girls is not enough; unsafe school environments and biases in teacher behaviour and training, teaching and learning processes, curricula and textbooks often lead to lower completion and achievement rates for girls."

Furthermore, by creating safe and gender-sensitive learning environments, it will be possible to remove a major impediment to education of girls. Accordingly, comprehensive efforts need to be embarked upon at all levels and in all areas to eliminate gender discrimination and to promote mutual respect between girls and boys, women and men.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200501130301.html