The Effect of the Society’s Belief on Girls’ Child Education in Secondary School in Ilorin West Local Government Area

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

            Education is the best legacy a nation can give to her citizens especially to the youths. This is because the development of any nation or community depends largely on the quality of education of such nation. It is generally believed that the basis of any true development must commence with the development of human resources.

            Girls have had various challenges in order to obtain equal education in all forms of formal education in Nigeria. Findings revealed that Girl child had been in this imbroglio before the advent of the full practice of Islam by the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.O.H). It could be perceived that access to education by girls is considered a significant indicator for the progress of a society; however, society’s belief is a contributing factor to the bane of girls’ child education, and, children including girls are the future of the nation which they need to be protected and promoted intellectually.

            Education is a basic human right and has been recognized as such since the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. A positive correlation exists between the enrollment of girls in primary school and the gross national product and increase of life expectancy.

Girl-child Education has been promoted by the international development community for over two decades; however, it has proven harder to promote gender equality through education. There is no doubt that education has social and economic benefits for the general public and private individuals. However, many children girls today are completing primary and even secondary Education. Improving the quality of education of girls not only improves individual children’s quality of life, but also develops the country as a whole. However, the following definitions are taken as operational terms:

            According to Ocho (2005), Education is the process through which individuals are made functional members of their society. Education is a human right that should be accorded to all human beings solely because of being human. Many International Human Right institutions advocate for education as a fundamental human right. These include the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the 1966 International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the 1981 Africa Charter on Human and People’s Right. This is why there has been a lot of emphasis particularly in recent times for all citizens of the world to have access to Basic Education.