Illiteracy In The North? Punish Parents!

An government official has called for the introduction of sanctions for parents who deny their children an education

The girl-child must also be educated...

Parent must be compelled to send their wards, especially female, to school and be punished when they fail to do so if the illiteracy level in the North must be lowered.

Gombe state Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Aisha M.B. Ahmed, made the assertion in an interview Daily Trust's  Christiana T. Alabi.

Ahmed said a government sanction on parent who refuse to allow their children get an education would be highly beneficial.

"In the national policy, there is a section that makes it compulsory for parents to send their children to school," she said.

"So, if government feels that parents who refuse to send their wards to school, particularly the girls, should be punished it will help a lot."

The commissioner opined that it is the right of every child to get an education irrespective of the sex or religion.

"Education is the right of every Nigerian child irrespective of whether the child is a boy or girl, a Christian or Muslim or any tribe," Ahmed said.

"Every Nigerian child has a right to the opportunities of knowledge.

Educating The Girl Child

The girl-child is the main victim of opposition to western education in the North. Whereas most 'liberal' parents allow their male children to enrol in school, girls are married off early and considered unworthy of formal education.

The recent abduction of nearly 300 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno state serving as a glarng example.

But Ahmed, who also suffered the 'girl-child-education' discrimination as a child, feels the trend must change.

"The big gap between the male and female child education must be bridged," she said.

She appealed to parents to resist cultural constraints for the sake of the children.

"I want to call on parents to give equal opportunities to boys and girls particularly in the area of education because nobody knows the child that is more blessed than the other.”

A 'Man-Culture'

Ahmed noted that cultural, constraints and the patriarchal nature of northern society all contribute to the neglect girl-child education.

"Some of the impediments to girl child education in the North have to do with culture and not necessarily religion as many people think.

"It has to do with men’s domination of the society and so many cultural inhibitions that are standing as barriers or hindrance to women from the northern part of the country."

With Boko Haram increasing its attacks on educational institutions in the North, it remains to be seen if parents will willingly send their wards to school .

Also. would the government be able to justify a sanction on erring parents where the security of the pupils is not guaranteed.