UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

COURSE CODE: CEF 707

COURSE TITLE: History of Education

QUESTION: Girl child Education in the new normal, Issues and prospects.

GROUP MEMBERS

NAMES MATRIC NO

Adediran Boluwatife .A

Ajala Bola Amina

227423
Oladoke Oyindamola .A

Olawole Ibukunoluwa .A

INTRODUCTION

The girl-child is a biological female offspring from birth to 18 years of age. During
this period, the young girl is totally under the care of the adult who may be parents,
guardians or elder siblings. It is also a period when the girl-child is malleable,
builds and develops her personality and character. She is very dependent on others
on who she models her behavior, through observation, repetition and imitation. Her
physical, mental, social, spiritual and emotional developments start and progress to
get to the peak at the young adult stage (Sutherland,2001).
Education is a basic human right and has been recognized as such since the 1948
adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. A positive correlation
exists between the enrollment of girls in primary school and the gross national
product and increase of life expectancy (Wikipedia, 2012).

The United Nations General Assembly (2001) adopted the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights which stipulates that everyone has the right to education which
shall be free at least in elementary and primary stages. Similarly, the National
Policy on Education emphasizes among other things that there will be equal
opportunities for all citizens.

The new normal:-- Covid-19 pandemic has changed our life as we know. As the
rate of infection slows down in some hard hit areas. We have to resume daily life
and some measures has to be taken to protect ourselves from this virus.

 Get vaccinated
 Social and physical distancing
 Hand washing, 20 seconds frequently throughout the day or use hand
sanitizer.
 Wearing face mask.

The Covid-19 pandemic forced most governments around the world to temporarily
close educational institutions to contain the spread of the virus, , all eyes turned to
digital technologies to provide learning continuity, we know from data and
experience that millions of girls around the world are not online and therefore may
not have access to the learning which is taking place in the digital space.
“How do we expect girls who are trying to survive to afford expensive data to get
online”, said Maryjacob from Activista Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

In Nigeria today, the women folk have come a long way in businesses, politics,
education, sports and other professions. They have made an indelible mark in their
efforts to conquer the limitations of the past which have sought to place them
permanently in the kitchen and bedroom. However, it is not all through a bed of
roses for women and their empowerment. Majority of Nigerian women have not
been fully mobilized and empowered to contribute to national development. If it
had been so, we would not still be talking about good health for women,
educational, economic, social, cultural and political empowerment of women. It is
on this note that we will attempt to explore girl-child education and community
development in Nigeria.

Then the pandemic struck and impacted negatively on girls health and wellbeing,
in addition to facing loss of learning as a result of prolonged school closing and
limited access to remote learning opportunities.

 Many girls are at risk of not returning to school

 Incidence of violence against girls and women increased during covid-19,
jeopardizing health, safety and overall well being.
 Increase in teenage pregnancy, this may result to not resuming school.
 Household chores and responsibilities increased during the school closure
which reduced the time available for studying.
 Poverty- most parents can't afford means of virtual learning.
 Cultural norms and practices (child marriage).
PROSPECTS
1. Tackle discriminating gender norms and harmful practices that deny girls
access to school and quality learning.
2. Support for government to ensure that budgets are gender responsive and
national education plans and policies priotize gender equality.
3. Teacher training and professional development on gender responsive
pedagogies.
4. Remove gender stereotypes from learning materials
5. Menstrual hygiene management in schools.
6. Provision of low tech approaches such as community radio learning
programmes to reach girls everywhere
7. Schorlaships and grants, provision of stationary and other incentives that
can promote girls education and return back to school, “ most families
will have lost their means of livelihood during the pandemic” said Tolani
from VSO Nigeria, “ scholarships can encourage parents to send girls
back to school.”
8. Government to instill polices that allow girls to have free equal access to
education regardless of their situation especially if they are pregnant