Education
THE Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), an NGO has called on the media to champion and promote the right to basic education in Kaduna State.
The State Coordinator, Mr Michael Aboh, made the call at a one-day meeting with newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna.
The meeting with support from the Malala Fund, a non-profit organisation that advocates for girls’ education was to mobilise media support for free education in the state.
Aboh said that the move was to ensure the development of a legal framework that would enforce the delivery of free, equitable and quality basic education in the state.
He, however, described media as a “critical advocacy platform” which if strategically engaged, would create the desired change in the basic education sector.
Speaking, Mrs Laura Bismark, a legal practitioner and facilitator said that the right to education was provided for in Section 18 (1) of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended.
Bismark said that the constitution in Section 18 orders government to direct its policy towards ensuring equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.
She added that Section 15(1) of the Universal Basic Education Act also mandate governments at the Federal and State level to provide free and compulsory basic education to the people.
Bismark said the section states that every child has the right to free, compulsory, and universal basic education, adding that it shall be the duty of the government in Nigeria to provide such education.
She, however, called on the media to engage the Kaduna State Government to prioritize the right to education of the child in it agenda.
“The media should also advocate to the state government to guarantee that in spite of background, sex, location, economy status and religion, no child is denied access to free, basic, and quality education.
“Increase investment in the education sector will improve learning infrastructure, provide incentives to qualified teachers and encourage massive enrolment of school children especially girls.
“This, in the long run, will drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state and Nigeria at large,” she said.
The legal practitioner also called on journalists to use their media platform to create awareness on the non-compliance with the right of the Nigerian child to free and compulsory education.
“Similarly, you should use your platforms to persuade parents, caregivers, policy makers and government institutions to respect and uphold the rights of the Nigerian child to free and compulsory education.
“After persuasion, the media could then mobilise the society at large on the need to seek redress when the right to education is violated and the need to fearlessly apply sanctions on culprits as a corrective measure,” Bismark said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that LEDAP, with the support of Malala Fund had since 2018 been advocating for the implementation of the UBE Act, as part of efforts to bridge the gap in access to education, particularly in Northern Nigeria. (NAN)
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Tags: Laura Bismark Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) Michael Aboh
