The Kontagora Emirate Council in Niger State has identified early marriage as one of the practices contributing to girls’ withdrawal from school.

The council called for stronger community action to ensure that girls remain in school and complete their education.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued after a two-day education stakeholders’ meeting held under the Mu Koma Makaranta Initiative, a five-year education advancement programme covering 2026 to 2031.

The meeting brought together traditional leaders, government representatives, education stakeholders, community leaders, parents, youth representatives and development partners.

The communiqué, signed by Dr Isah Adamu of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, convener of the Mu Koma Makaranta Initiative, and Dr Shaima’u Aliyu Yunusa of the Federal University of Education, Kontagora, stressed the need for communities to discourage practices that prevent children from attending or remaining in school.

According to the emirate council, early marriage, social barriers and neglect of educational responsibilities remain among the challenges that must be addressed as part of efforts to bring out-of-school children back to learning and keep them within the education system.

The council said the five-year blueprint would give special attention to girl-child education to promote equal access to learning opportunities and reduce barriers limiting girls’ participation and retention in school.

The initiative also calls for greater involvement of traditional institutions, families and communities in protecting children’s education, with emirs, chiefs, district heads and community leaders expected to serve as education ambassadors and mobilise their communities in support of schooling.

The stakeholders resolved to establish Community Education Action Teams comprising teachers, parents, traditional and religious leaders, youth representatives, School-Based Management Committees and community organisations to strengthen community ownership of education and monitor children’s participation.

Under the initiative, children who have dropped out of school or are at risk of doing so will be identified, assessed and connected to appropriate educational pathways.

The stakeholders also proposed the restructuring and strengthening of technical and vocational education, greater emphasis on science and technology, community scholarships for outstanding science students, teacher recognition awards and an annual Kontagora Emirate Education Day. (Daily Trust)