Extend Free, Compulsory Education To SS Schools, CSOs Urge Reps
Malala Fund and 30 CSOs urge Dogara-led House of Representatives to join the 8th Senate in extending free, compulsory education to senior secondary school
More than 30 Civil Society Organisations across the country — including Malala Fund and ONE Campaign — call on the House of Representatives to extend the right to free education to senior secondary school.
See attached the letter below:
The Speaker
House of Representatives
National Assembly
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Abuja.
Dear RT. Hon. Yakubu Dogara,
The evidence is clear: girls’ education grows economies, improves public health, reduces conflict and mitigates climate change.
Educated girls are more likely to have healthy, educated children. Educating girls to the same level as boys could decrease the likelihood of conflict by over a third, and could benefit developing countries to the tune of at least $112 billion a year.
Yet Nigeria only provides its children the right to nine years of free education. This is not enough. It is not enough for the future prosperity of our country — and it not enough for the millions of girls fighting for their futures.
In July 2017, the National Assembly Senate passed an amendment to the Universal Basic Education Act, which would extend the right to free education from nine years to 12 years for all children in Nigeria.
It would also ease financial pressure and resource constraints on the states, and help them access federal funds allocated through the Universal Basic Education Commission.
Before this amendment can become law, it must also pass through the House of Representatives and receive presidential assent.
However, the passed Senate bill (SB 324 & 307) has neither been presented on the House of Representatives (HoR) floor nor scheduled for any further action by the Honourable Representatives.
Today we call on you, Most Revered Honourable Speaker, to throw your full weight behind the amendment to the Universal Basic Education Act to improve domestic investment in education and expand the federal mandate to 12 years of free, compulsory education.
Your support is essential in ensuring an accelerated hearing and speedy passage.
Given your leadership in championing education, we trust that you will once again advance the future peace and prosperity of Nigeria by investing in the education of its girls and boys.
Yours sincerely,
Access to Development Initiative (ADI)
ACE Charity
Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF)
AONN LAGOS
AYECI Africa
Center for Girls’ Education
Centre for 21st century Issues
Civic Media Lab
Cleannation Foundation
Connected Development (CODE)
CrEEED Initiative (Crested Edge Educational and Entrepreneurial Development Initiative)
CSNews Network
Development Research and Project Centre
Dolly Children Foundation
Endonamoo Transformation Global Initiative (ETGIN)
Girl Child Africa
Hallmark Leadership Initiative
Health Education and Empowerment Initiative (HEDEN)
Hope for communities and children initiative (H4CC)
InnovationMatters
Kimpact Youth Development Initiative
Liberi Health Foundation
Malala Fund
Noble Missions for Change Initiative
ONE Campaign
Progressive Education and Development Initiative
Purple Admiral Foundation for Community Development
Society for Empowerment and Self Reliance (SESER)
TalentPlus Resources International (TRI)
YouthHubAfrica