According to a recently presented report in Kaduna State, the Girls Education Project Phase III GEP3 has successfully enrolled no fewer than 1.5 million girls in schools across six Northern states over the past 10 years.
The GEP3 initiative, implemented by the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria and funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office FCDO, UK, through UNICEF, aimed to enhance access, enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes for girls in basic education. The targeted goal of one million girls was surpassed, with over 500,000 additional girls benefiting from the program.
The evaluation findings highlighted several achievements, including the provision of cash transfers to 23,655 girls and the training of more than 67,000 teachers and Integrated Qur’anic Schools IQS facilitators. As a result, teaching competency increased from 12% to 52%. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2.6 million children continued their education through alternate learning methods, and 94% of students returned to school following back-to-school campaigns conducted in 18,567 schools.
The report also showcased the successful implementation of the Reading and Numeracy Activity RANA in over 3,800 schools and IQS, resulting in improved foundational literacy. Additionally, the functionality of School-Based Management Committees SBMCs and Community-Based Management Committees CBMCs increased from 30% to 80%, with the development plans focusing on enhancing girls’ enrollment and retention, which saw an increase from 45% to 67%.
Dr. Idris Baba, the Officer in Charge OiC of UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, emphasized the program’s achievements, attributing its success to a comprehensive societal approach that addressed various social, psychosocial, cultural, and economic factors affecting girls’ education. The GEP3 initiative demonstrated effectiveness in reducing inequalities and improving access, enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes in basic education.
Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, Director of the Senior Secondary Education Department at the Federal Ministry of Education, commended the success of GEP3, stating that it has transformed the landscape of school enrollment and completion at the Basic Education level. Through activities such as the Cash Transfer Program, community engagement through School-Based Management Committees SBMCs and Center-Based Management Committees CBMCs, and Mothers’ Associations, GEP3 has successfully improved access, retention, and completion rates in schools. The initiative also focused on capacity development for teachers and school administrators through programs like the High-Level Women Advocates HILWA and G4G, contributing to increased girls’ enrollment and completion rates.
In conclusion, the Girls Education Project Phase III GEP3 in Northern Nigeria has accomplished remarkable progress in promoting girls’ education. Its comprehensive approach, involving various stakeholders and implementing different interventions, has led to significant positive shifts in perceptions and behaviors. The program’s achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations provide valuable insights for future interventions in the education sector.
