Education is regarded as essential given its countless economic and non-economic benefits (Haveman and Wolfe 2001; Post 2002). Moreover, formal education is considered particularly important for girls and women, given that it leads to higher age at first marriage, greater knowledge of family planning, reduced family size, and greater access and openness to prenatal care during pregnancy (Haveman and Wolfe 2001; UNESCO 2008).
While the economic and social benefits of formal education are widely known, as of 2006, approximately 72 million school-age children in developing countries were not in school, with 35 million of these children in sub-Saharan Africa (UNESCO 2008). Nigeria, the focus of this research, has eight million school-age children out of school, the highest number in sub-Saharan Africa (UNESCO 2008). Also noteworthy for our purposes, research conducted in various developing countries suggests that the children who are not in school are disproportionately female, impoverished, rural and in some instances, these children are doubly disadvantaged if they are female and belong to poor families or if they are female and reside in rural areas. These children are less likely to acquire the benefits of education as they transition into adulthood.
The Program of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the 2000 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) both call for closing the formal educational attainment gap between girls and boys. These documents urge countries around the globe to focus on increasing girls’ education and school enrollment rates as part of their development and population plans. Likewise, the Education for All (EFA) agenda, first developed in 1990, highlights the need for the elimination of gender disparities in girls’ primary and secondary education by 2015, and it emphasizes that girls need access to a good quality basic education (World Bank 2009).
It appears that some countries are heeding calls to reduce the gender gap. Research suggests that differences in the school enrollment of boys and girls have narrowed worldwide. As of the early 2000's in Latin America, girls’ enrollment exceeded that of boys. A recent report by UNESCO and UNICEF (2005) indicates that globally, 83.8 percent and 80.5 percent of primary school age boys and girls, respectively, are in school. While this gender disparity appears to be smaller than it used to be, it persists and is non-negligible in the Middle East, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. For example, in Nigeria, the country in which this research is situated, in 2007 64 percent of boys and 58 percent of girls of primary school age were in school (UNESCO 2007).
Despite the persistence of such gender disparities, John Knodel and Gavin W. Jones (1996) and Maureen A. Lewis and Marlaine E. Lockheed (2006) suggest that closing the gender gap in school attendance and attainment should no longer be a top priority among international development agencies. Rather, such agencies are encouraged to pay special attention to the overlapping effects of gender and other household factors, such as urban-rural residence, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, language, and/or religion on children’s educational attainment (Stromquist 2001; Lewis and Lockheed 2006). More importantly, John Knodel and Gavin W. Jones (1996) and Maureen A. Lewis and Marlaine E. Lockheed (2006) argue that the intersection of gender and socioeconomic disparity, and/or gender and urban-rural location, create greater impediments to girls’ education than the effect of gender alone. In sub-Saharan Africa in particular, Cynthia B. Lloyd and Paul C. Hewett (2003) indicate that there is a dire lack of education among children from the poorest households, especially among girls.
The Case of Nigeria
The Federal Republic of Nigeria was created in 1960 when the country gained independence after six decades of British colonial rule (Osaghae 1992). In 2006, Nigeria’s population stood at 145 million, with over half (51%) of that number living in rural areas (UNESCO 2007, World Bank 2008). The country has hundreds of ethnic groups, with the major ones being the Hausa-Fulani, the Yoruba, the Igbo, and the Ijaw (Cohen and Goldman 1991; Encyclopedia of the Nations 2008). The three major religions are Islam, Christianity, and indigenous/traditional congregations (Cohen and Goldman 1991).
Western-style education was introduced in Nigeria by Christian missionaries for the first time in 1843 (Fafunwa 1974). The south was the first and main part of the country in which missionaries promoted education; the establishment of schools came later to the Muslim-dominated and more isolated north (Bray 1981). The education system in contemporary Nigeria is 6-3-3-4 in structure, with six years of primary school, three years each of junior and senior secondary school, and four years of tertiary education.
Nigeria has undertaken a number of educational initiatives in recent decades. In 1976, Universal Primary Education (UPE) was launched as a major education scheme. It stipulated that primary education would be universal and free of charge to all children, though it stopped short of making it compulsory. The plan also set the age of entry into primary school at age six. During the 1976 establishment of UPE in the country, the government embraced an education program that places formal education at a superior position to informal or vocational education (Bray 1981). The Nigerian federal government argued that it took this stance in order to expand its education system and to achieve social and economic development (Bray 1981).
The 1981 National Policy on Education states that the process of educating should instill a spirit of national unity, bestow values and attitudes that are important for survival in Nigerian society, expose children to worldwide cultures and ways of life, 4) equip them with the skills and competencies that would contribute to the country’s development (National Education Policy 1981). It also makes mention of remedying the country’s past educational inequality with regard to girls and rural children (National Education Policy 1981). In 2004, a new educational program called the Universal Basic Education (UBE) was enacted. It departed from its predecessor, UPE, in some key ways. First, it made school attendance compulsory. Specifically, it stipulated that all levels of government must provide children with free, compulsory and universal basic education for nine years – six years of primary and three years secondary school (Ejieh 2009). Second, the UBE put the onus on parents who must register their children for school and ensure that their children complete the basic education cycle. Third, it established penalties for parents who failed to abide by this law (Ejieh 2009).
Elements of these policy initiatives illustrate the government's ongoing recognition of the challenges it faces in achieving its educational goals and reducing inequalities in this regard. These concerns are well founded. Indeed, data from the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) indicate that the country’s primary school net attendance rate (NAR) is a relatively low 60 percent, and that this overall rate masks considerable inequality by gender, residence and wealth. The NAR is 64 percent for boys and 56 percent for girls (Huebler 2005). Similarly, the rate is 70 and 56 percent in urban and rural areas, respectively (Huebler 2005). More glaring, children from the richest households have an 83 percent net attendance rate, while the net attendance rate for those from poorest households stand at 40 percent (Huebler 2005). Moreover, UNESCO (2008) reports that there is a growing educational disparity in children’s school enrollment in the country that is mainly geographic, socioeconomic, and gendered in nature – working to the disadvantage of rural children, poor children and girls. Specifically, UNESCO (2008) report found that the majority of children who have never attended school in the country are children from the poorest households (UNESCO 2008). Socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in children’s schooling in the country are the largest for Nigerian women and girls. At the national level, the literacy rate is 56 and 73 percent for women and men, respectively (UNICEF 2006). Within the country, females fair particularly poorly in some states, mainly in the north. In the northern state of Sokoto, for example, the net enrollment rate for girls is 15 percent, which compares to 59 percent for boys. Similarly striking, (UNESCO 2008, 62) indicates that “in Kaduna state, 48 percent of girls from the poorest 20 percent of households have never attended school, compared with 14 percent in the richest quin-tile.” Such disparities, along with Nigeria's ignoble distinction of having the highest number of school age children who are not in school of any country in sub-Saharan Africa (UNESCO 2008), suggest that Nigeria is a logical and critically important setting in which to investigate the role of gender, residence, and socioeconomic status on school attendance.
Writing materials are important to school children who's parents couldn't afford it, the children have to be sent back to school in order to continue their education; these children were met in schools, in their various homes; in order to donate food items as well. Most of them live in remote villages, but that didn't stop the good work because I promise to take my trustworthy options very seriously and in making sure I promote quality education in the society.
Children are gifts from God and they have abundant of talents deposited in them. I had to organize skills acquisition program for these children, in order for them to learn how to prepare sweet delicacies, baking, hair cut and to prepare small chops. Do you know that helping your kids develop cooking skills is a great way to boost their confidence and, over time, empower them to be self-sufficient in the family kitchen and beyond? I've gathered recipes that cover a range of skills that can serve as the building blocks for getting them comfortable in the kitchen — from learning how to pour, measure, and stir, to more complicated skills like working with a stove or oven. These children are so amazing, I am happy and fulfilled that I am taking responsibilities of educating the boy/girl child to be useful in the society and to become great future global leaders.
We organized a quality education outreach at the University of Port Harcourt during my undergraduate studies, in making sure that no one is left out because i strongly believe that education is a right and not a privilege. I and my team championed this project, we fed the street, we organized education, career and business seminars including professional programs. My burning desire for quality education is endless to the extend that I had to join education NGO's and others when I was in tertiary institution till date, in making sure that I bring quality education to the people.
Better Communication is yet another role in Education. Education improves and refines the speech of a person. Furthermore, individuals also improve other means of communication with Education.
Education makes an individual a better user of technology. Education certainly provides the technical skills necessary for using technology. Hence, without Education, it would probably be difficult to handle modern machines. Lets join hands to educate the world.
Education is not just to read and write but to make use of it for their own advantages and to utilize the knowledge for their growth. Also one can lead their own life without depending on others. It is not about making people literate, as literacy is entirely different from education.
Literacy is meant as the ability to read and write, whereas education is finding out the reason behind everything and using the reading-writing skills to improve their lives. It helps the countries to grow economically and cherish with prosperity. To live a flawless life, education is very important for every individual.
“Education is nothing but studying different kinds of subjects to gain knowledge and understanding and trying to apply it in daily life”.
Also, education is not only gaining book knowledge but also can be learned practically. Education doesn’t mean to just go to schools and colleges daily and attend exams, it is meant for gathering knowledge and relating it to our lives.
Even a robot can read and write, but using knowledge wisely is what makes humans different. Education is not only for utilizing ourselves, but it can also be used to improve other peoples’ lives.
To gain respect from society, one should be educated. To lead a happy and prosperous life, one needs to study and obtain a great job to be successful in life.
It helps in earning money and fulfilling the basic needs of life. Also, education will help to gain a reputation by being in a great position. It can help you grow in a career and fulfill their dreams. It also helps one to set personal and career goals.
Education is irrespective of caste, creed and gender, by gaining knowledge people can stand out as equal with all the other persons from different caste and creed. It is a platform to prove the equity by defeating all barriers.
Education is important for children because they are the future of the world and they should be updated with current affairs. They are the pillars of the nation, to develop a country and the world the future should be secure and the children are the weapons to build the nation with all their knowledge and education.
We should inculcate the past generation’s values and carry them with huge current innovations. It helps to break the social evils like racism and poverty line, so each and every child must be educated.
To say Education is important is an understatement. Education is a weapon to improve one’s life. It is probably the most important tool to change one’s life. Education for a child begins at home. It is a lifelong process that ends with death. Education certainly determines the quality of an individual’s life. Education improves one’s knowledge, skills and develops the personality and attitude. Most noteworthy, Education affects the chances of employment for people. A highly educated individual is probably very likely to get a good job.
Education helps in spreading knowledge in society. This is perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of Education. There is a quick propagation of knowledge in an educated society. Furthermore, there is a transfer of knowledge from generation to another by Education.
Education helps in the development and innovation of technology. Most noteworthy, the more the education, the more technology will spread. Important developments in war equipment, medicine, computers, take place due to Education.
Education is a ray of light in the darkness. It certainly is a hope for a good life. Education is a basic right of every Human on this Planet. To deny this right is evil. Uneducated youth is the worst thing for Humanity. Above all, the governments of all countries must ensure to spread Education.
I coordinated members of this network in making sure that we provides enough vital information, creates awareness/educate the boy and girl child on the importance of career development at their tender age and to help kick against female circumcision/female genital cutting in most rural areas. I currently run a small NGO where i take it upon myself to provide writing material to school children, I provide sanitary pad for the girls in order for them to go back to school and be comfortable in class during their menstrual period.
My organization is into transformation of social life, supporting school children to ensure good quality education, providing useful information via technology, to educate the boy and girl child, to bring technology to the world, to eradicate female circumcision; freewill donation of writing materials to primary/secondary school students.
I volunteer to lead various teams in making sure that basic health services in rural areas are provided. With my in-depth knowledge in health and safety I acquired from World Safety Organization (WSO), My organization educates and promotes humanitarian values, health and community care, saving of human lives in our cities/communities by providing the most basic health services/facilities like First Aid boxes, administering CPR etc and elementary health education. I am able to relieve human suffering to a very large extent, I have saved above 1,000 casualties, and I prevented more than 2,000 people from bleeding, malaria and joint dislocation across different cities/communities. Through my education outreach on medical welfare and well-being, I am able to reduced vulnerability through community participation and mobilization of an increased number of volunteers.
There is need to educate and create awareness on the importance of food items donation to the less privileged, most especially this period things are very difficult. The goal is to end hunger and poverty in our society. The United Nations (UN SDG) convention on the rights of the child stated that, a child has the right to quality care and protection if they are adopted. Also, a child has the right to special care if if the child is not living with his/her parents. The advantage of good food or nutrition is beyond the individual but it also cut across the economic fortunes of a nation.
As a Linguistics and communication scholar and a content writer, I am enthusiastic and passionate to work with a team where my skills will lead to service advancement. I have an excellent communication skills, conflict resolution skills, leadership ability in a dynamic environment, good enthusiasm and persistence spirit, ability to work independently as well as within a team of multidisciplinary professionals with eagerness to learn.
I am happy to have accomplished this mind blowing conference, the aim is to give voice to the voiceless, promote gender equality and to protect the girl child from rape, trafficking, educate them on sex education and to create awareness on the importance of career development from their tender age.
The rate of bad roads, abandoned medical care centres, abandoned learning environments, abandoned projects/infrastructures in rural communities by the government and politicians is alarming. It's high time we educate them/create awareness on the importance of quality education and well-being of its citizens. If I have the resources, I would have personally taken good care of all these abandoned projects. As a content writer, I will make sure I bring this ugly situation to the attention of the government authorities.
I cherish this picture so much because I stand with United Nations for Sustainable Development Goals in educating the society on the importance of Quality Education in developing countries such as Nigeria and other African countries
This is me teaching hair cut Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship for graduates under the one year mandatory National Youth Service to our country Nigeria.
Comments