The Zamfara state implementation committee on National Policy on Gender in Education has urged the policy makers to consider the culture and religion of the people of the state while drafting their policy on girls education.
Speaking during a two-day state level meeting to domesticate National Policy on Gender in Education in Gusau on Wednesday, most of the speakers dwelled on the need for the policy makers to put into consideration the culture and religion of the people of Zamfara state.
In his submission, the Emir of Kaura-namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed Ahmed Asha suggested that the policy makers must respect the culture and religion of the people of the state in order to allow parents and guardians to send their wards to school.
“Since we are guided by the sharia legal system, we have to maintain the use of hijab and decent dressing code”.
“We should also try as much as we can to separate girls from boys and where it is not possible, the girls should be made to sit behind the boys”.
Another speaker who represented the State Ulama Consultative Council, Alhaji Jamilu Ahmed stressed that, the domestication should recognize the religion and culture of the people of the state.
Jamilu who is also a Special Adviser to Ulama Consultative Council said, “When this is done, the policy could be easily implemented”.
He also advised that, the stakeholders should also be involved in the implementation of the policy.
In his speech, the chairman of the state NPGE implement committee, Alhaji Attahiru Gusau said the state government has been at the vanguard in supporting issues pertaining to gender education.
Attahiru who who doubled as the permanent secretary ministry of education stressed that, “Zamfara is always on the lead on girls education”.
He however lamented that, what has been put in the policy cannot be put into practice”.
The chairman of the State Based Management Committee (SBMC) Alhaji Abubakar Dogo applauded his colleagues for drawing the attention of the policy makers regarding the culture and religion of the state.
He said, “The representative of the Ulama Consultative Council has said a lot on the topic”.
Dogo said, “The culture and religion of the people of the state must be respected if you want a good result”.
Speaking on behalf of the SUBEB chairman, the Director of the board, Alhaji Aminu Musa kanoma said, the board in collaboration with the states ministry of education has been supporting the committee to ensure its success.
Kanoma maintained that the board has also been playing its role towards the upliftment of the Girl-Child education in the state.
He assured that the board would continue to help the committee wherever possible.
The state’s UNICEF consultant, Dr. Ahmed Hashim highlighted the objectives of the committee which consisted of reviewing of inputs from the previous meeting on NPGE, domestication through validation process, finalizing the implementation plan and inaugurating the state implementation committee.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the SUBEB focal person, Muzammil Ibrahim who spoke on behalf of the board said, “After successful completion of State level meeting, the need to hold State level meeting to domesticate National Policy on Gender in Education came to play.
He thanked the participants for their kind attention and wished them fruitful deliberation.
