The Kano state government has announced its intention to reopen several girls’ boarding schools that were closed by the previous administration. This decision was revealed by Hafsat Aminu, the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on girl-child education, during a stakeholders’ learning workshop focused on gender-responsive education budgeting (GREB) held in Kano. The initiative aims to enhance educational access for girls and address the issue of out-of-school children in the region.
Hafsat Aminu highlighted that the state government, under the leadership of Alhaji Abba Yusuf, has approved the rehabilitation of more than 20 schools that were previously shut down. The goal is to boost educational opportunities for girls and ensure that they have a conducive learning environment. She emphasized the importance of this initiative in promoting gender equality in education and reducing the barriers that have historically hindered girls’ access to schooling.
During the workshop, Hafsat expressed her commitment to the project, stating, “We are on the path to ensuring these schools are repaired and reopened.” She noted that while there was a desire to reopen all the schools simultaneously, the extent of the damage required a more gradual approach. The government is prioritizing the repairs to ensure that the majority of the schools can be operational by the next academic session.
Moreover, Hafsat pointed out that her appointment as the Senior Special Adviser on girl-child education represents a significant step towards prioritizing girls’ education in the state. Through her office, approximately 1,000 girls have already been re-enrolled in schools, with ongoing efforts to enroll even more. This initiative is accompanied by plans to provide essential resources and support to facilitate their education.
In addition, Abdullaziz Musa, a project officer from BCAI, discussed the GREB project, which is part of the Bridging Access to Girl Education (BAGE) initiative. He explained that GREB aims to ensure quality and equitable education for girls in Kano through gender-responsive budgeting and the establishment of community accountability mechanisms. This comprehensive approach is intended to create a sustainable framework for improving girls’ education in the state, highlighting the government’s commitment to addressing the educational disparities faced by girls.
