The Kaduna State government has been urged to review Section 6, Sub-section 2, of the State’s Second Chance Education Policy to include the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), to enhance the learning capabilities of adolescent married women.
The call was the focus of a one-day dialogue on the review of the Second Chance Education Policy in the State.
In 2020, the Kaduna State Government signed into law the Second Chance Education Policy, designed to give married adolescent women the opportunity to study, while in their matrimonial homes.
However, the programme has faced several challenges, including a lack of skill development, and many husbands not allowing their wives to attend.
These issues have led to a high dropout rate, with many students leaving school for the second time.
The meeting aimed to review aspects of the policy and expand its scope to include Information and Communication Technology, (ICT).
Divine Yusuf, a 19-year-old mother and student of the Second Chance Education programme, finds it difficult to concentrate, as she has to attend to her baby’s needs.
Divine advocates for the inclusion of ICT in the programme, to enable her to study from home.
Like Divine, several students shared their experiences, highlighting the challenges they faced, and the urgent need for a more inclusive and supportive education system.
Participants in the review, emphasised the need to integrate ICT into the policy.
They argued that this inclusion will enable students to develop crucial skills, and build their capacity, offering them better opportunities for the future.
The push for ICT inclusion in the Second Chance Education policy is seen as a vital step, towards empowering the women, and ensuring they can achieve their educational and professional goals.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
