By our reporter
Ahead of the 2023 general elections and the need to hold politicians accountable for their promises to revamp the education system, the Malala Fund, a civil society organization(CSO) have launched an education manifesto expected to be a template for contestants in the forth-coming election.
The manifesto which includes adopting a progressive universalisation approach to the implementation of 12 years of education which prioritises support those at greatest risk of not learning the poor, the discriminated against girls, children with disabilities and those facing multiple disadvantages,establish and mainstream minimum standards and guidelines for financial planning for education to include guidance on gender responsive planning,and budgeting and the establishment of national education accounts and to effectively and immediately roll out the implementation of the safe school plan of action and national policy on safety security and violence free schools amongst others.
The program Director Malala Fund Nigeria Fatima Saikiru while interacting with journalist said the Nigerian education system is sick and needs to be hospitalised. she said that the main aim of the event is for media practitioners to create a voice and relate the Malala Fund manifesto to politicians as they tussle for the 2023 general election.Ms saikiru said the education manifesto is a collective efforts from various civil society organisations and support from the world Bank, UNICEF etc also stated that the Malala Fund is working tirelessly in order to ensure that the manifesto serve as a tool that guides conversations with politicians aspirants hence given the CSO’s and the media a tool for follow-up after the elections.
Dr Plangsat Bitrus Dayil while elaborating on gender transformative education stated that gender deals on socially constructed roles, rights, entitlements and more assigned to male female.
The researcher was of the opinion that the struggle for gender balance in the education system is a dream that’s yet to come true, while suggesting that gender planning is a key in Nigerian education transformation.
