LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Girl Child Education: A 21st Century Necessity
The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines Education as a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills. It is commonly said that when you educate a girl child you educate a nation.
The essence of the belief is that the girl child will grow up one day to give birth to children who will in turn reproduce younger ones and so on. Hence, education is important in the life of a girl child.
Education can prevent young girls from getting unwanted pregnancy and in most cases know when a man abuse their right without having to be subjected to ridicule in marriage.
Girls who attend primary and secondary schools are more likely to have a say in their choice of life partner and girls who attend tertiary institutions are also able to use more effective methods of family planning and therefore have fewer and healthier babies.
An educated girl and woman would have learnt about HIV/AIDS and know different ways to protect herself from the disease and many others.
Education also teaches young ones the importance of keeping themselves and their houses clean and safe, hence, as their families are healthier, so are the mothers.
Although, the cost of Education could be a bit challenging, but illiteracy is actually more expensive as education pays off in the long run.
At this point, I urge all children to face their education squarely which is paramount for them at their tender age.
I implore the parents to take care of their girl-child and make sure they are educated no matter how hard it is, since there are Government schools for their children to attend.
I therefore urge the government not to cease in sponsoring free education for the sake of indigent Nigerians for the betterment of the young ones.