Girls and young women whose education has been disrupted by pregnancy, early marriage, poverty or other difficult circumstances are to receive greater opportunities to return to school.
The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, says it is expanding alternative learning pathways to ensure that children who drop out are not left behind.
UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, stated this during the inauguration of the rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Lagos State.
Garba said the rehabilitated school would give affected girls an opportunity to resume learning, acquire vocational skills and build productive futures.
“A girl whose circumstances prevented her from completing her education should be given another opportunity. Every child deserves an alternative pathway to acquire the education they deserve to succeed in life”, she said.
She said the intervention included improved classrooms, furniture, ICT equipment, laboratories, vocational facilities, and water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure.
“The true measure of our success will be the girl who walks through these gates and discovers that she still has a future. It will be the girl who acquires a skill, finds employment, starts a business or becomes a leader in her community”, she said.
The UBEC boss urged the Lagos State Government and the community to maintain the facilities and ensure the school continues to provide second-chance education for girls and young women.
