A report released by a non-governmental organisation, the Malala Fund, has revealed that 120 million girls are out of school worldwide, out of which 8.5 million are adolescents.

The Malala Fund’s Annual Report of activities from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, September.

According to the report, girls, especially those in low-income countries, dropped out of school at higher rates as they get older and transition to secondary school.

It said there were barriers to girls’ access to education in Nigeria through its policies and budgets, thus frustrating their completion of 12 years of education.

It stated: “In Nigeria, barriers such as hidden school fees, policies that only guarantee nine years of free education and decreasing education budgets, keep girls from completing 12 years of school.

“Additionally, safety concerns loom large in schools with incidents of student kidnapping, and 44 per cent of adolescent girls reporting experiences of physical and sexual violence inflicted by teachers and or classmates.”

According to the report, in addressing the situation, the Fund and its partners advocate for legislative changes to ensure 12 years of free education for all Nigerian students.

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The Fund added: “We have pushed for the government to fulfil its commitment to allocating four per cent of Gross Domestic Product, and 22.5 per cent of the national budget to education by 2025.

“We also support organisations that advocate for policies and deliver programmes to make schools safer for girls.”

It further listed factors that significantly restrict girls’ access to free, safe, and quality education to include reversal of progress on gender equality, strained education budget, and increased conflicts and climate shocks.

Malala Fund stated that it invests in and builds a network of education advocates, champions holding leaders accountable, and helps to develop the next generation of future leaders.

The Fund noted that while marking its 10th anniversary, highlights of its activities included drawing global attention to gender apartheid in Afghanistan and expanding the global right to free education to 12 years.

Others include advancing and tracking gender equality in all through education and increasing financing for girls’ education.

Malala Fund was founded in 2013 by Malala Yousafzai and Ziauddin Yousafzai.

The Star