Gombe: 10,000 female dropouts to be returned to school

The Adolescent Girl’s Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) has said it is targeting to enrol 10,000 adolescent female school dropouts back in school in Gombe.

The AGILE project coordinator in Gombe, Amina Abdul, disclosed this at a media briefing in Gombe on Wednesday.

AGILE is a World Bank-supported project implemented by the federal ministry of education with counterpart funding from the state government.

Abdul said the programme was one of the project components called second chance education.

“The coordinator said the 10,000 adolescent girls targeted were those that dropped out from schools due to one reason or the other, early marriage, gender-based violence poverty, amongst others,” stated Ms Abdul.

“If they drop out due to early marriage, Gender-Based Violence and other problems, and they are between the ages of 14 and 20, they will be given the chance to come back and complete their education.”

Abdul added, “Adolescent girls that were engaged in hard labour, being denied the privilege to go to schools will also be considered. Those that have started formal education will be accommodated in secondary schools. Those that have not and are within the age of 20 will go to literacy class to be taught how to read and write.”

The AGILE official said they would have the opportunity to complete their secondary education and become useful members of society, serve humanity and correct social ills.

Abdul explained that those in the literacy class would also learn ICT skills to make the most of internet facilities.

(NAN)