Ekiti State government has reiterated its commitment on girl child education, which has remained a potent tool for social transformation and sustainable development.
This was made known by Olayemi Oyebanji, wife of the State Governor, who was represented by Mary Adedokun, a professor, at the special education forum organised by Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development in Ado Ekiti (BIGIF).
Olayemi, while presenting a paper on factors limiting girl child education in Ekiti, stressed the importance of educating both the male and female children which could not be overemphasized in the community.
The First Lady explained that the state government is interested in the education that will be universal, affordable and accessible to the marginalised groups and physically challenged male and female children that will produce the best human resource for development purpose.
She echoed that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the goal education for all is well achieved.
In her contributions as a panelist, Folakemi Olomojobi, permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, who was represented by Modupe Adebayo, director of evaluation in the ministry, explained that some girl child have poverty mentality where government has been qssisting the parents in the payment of school fees, WAEC & JAMB fees, provision of laptops and textbooks in core subjects.
Michael Omolayo, another panelist, and permanent secretary, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), listed some of the factors limiting education for girl child which included; economic factors, parental background, differential value system placed on education by the
parents, location which are outside the control of the girl child, fear of insecurity, amongst others.
Omolayo explained that parents are student’s first teachers to provide home training,hence the need to provide basic needs (food,clothing and shelter) and learning materials ( where necessary) to complement government free and compulsory education policy.
He advocated for increase in public enlightenment,volunteer groups, philanthropists, NGOs and Stakeholders involvement to provide helplines for indigent and vulnerable children(male and female) for inclusive education.
