From Yinka Salaam, Osogbo
The First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu has launched the construction of an Alternative High School for Girls in Osun State with the intent to give young girls and women who dropped out of school, a second chance.
TheNewsZenith reports that Mrs Tinubu performed the groundbreaking for the foundation laying of the school, on Tuesday in Osogbo, Osun State.
She remarked that girls who had dropped out due to unplanned pregnancies, cultural barriers, economic or finances among other reasons “will now have an opportunity through the initiative.
“This will enable them to complete high school, acquire higher education with valuable life skills and achieve their full potential in life”.
Sen. Oluremi noted that the ceremony marks the beginning of an opportunity for a new chapter.
She added that it was the chance of a promising future for the exceptional young girls and women who would walk through the doors of this very school.
“In a world where every girl deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach her fullest potential, it is a sad thing to witness the barriers that stand in the way of their education.
“No doubt, without education, girls would lack the necessary skills to support themselves and access information to make informed decisions about their health and future,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu noted that the alarming rate of school dropouts among girls was a reminder of the need for alternative solutions in their educational pursuits.
She noted that the consequences of this challenge affect not only their individual lives but also have attendant socio-economic implications for the nation.
Responding, Gov. Ademola Adeleke assured the First Lady of the state government support towards the success of the initiative.
Adeleke assured that the state would follow up and provide needed support to ensure a robust operation upon the completion of the school.
He expressed his administration’s commitment to supporting girl child education.
“We have introduced a series of programmes which strengthen the capacity of families to provide basic needs.
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“The state also focuses on stopping the crisis of sexual violence against women.
“To that end, Osun is the first state to implement the resolution of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Action Against sexual violence.
“We have met the Ministry of Women Affairs and resolved to set up mobile courts to try domestic sexual violence matters,” the governor said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr Hamid Bobboyi said available data showed that out of the 3,904,713 pupils in Primary Six across the country in 2021, only 1,602,213 transited to JSS-1 in 2022.
“While there are regional variations, the problem is nationwide and deserves to be addressed urgently,” Bobboyi noted.
He said the Federal Government designed the Alternative High school to respond to the shifting emphasis on the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills.
“The school will provide opportunities for the learners to acquire life-sustaining skills that will make them self-reliant, income generators and ultimately improve the standard of living of the family.
“When completed, the school will have workshops for entrepreneurial training in the vocational trades like Fashion Design and Tailoring Home Economics and Catering.
“It also has a laboratory equipped with computers and tablets to provide digital literacy to all learners and enhance access and utilisation of digital resources.
“In addition, there is provision for fully furnished and equipped classrooms and Nursery play area for the Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE).
It is expected that women who will be enrolled in the school will be accompanied by young children of nursery school age.
“The facility will allow their mothers to concentrate on their programme. It will also entice young children to learn how to learn and provide the foundation they require to excel in their educational careers.
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