The Girl Child and Access to Education :A Case Study of Niger State

Abstract

This Paper seeks examine the issue of access of the girl child to western education in Niger state. While the government of Nigeria over the years preaches education for all. without prejudice to any particular gender, dose the girl child stand on the same pedestrian with her male counter part,when the real issue of environment and relation in school come? to answer the pertinent question and qualitative study was carried out in three Local Government Area (LGAs) of Gurara,Borgu. and Mashegu. Ten (10) school from each Local Government Area (LGAs) comprising three junior secondary school and seven primary school. from rural and semi-urban centers were randomly selected for this study. the three local government area selected were done from among the 15 educationally disadvantaged once in the state. Focus group discussion (FGD). school mapping. Transect walk and Observation method of data collection were used on stakeholders which includes pupils (boys and girls ). and out of school children. Coding of responses from the stakeholders was used as method of data analysis. the finding reveals that ignorance of parents on the value of education particularly of the girl child,early marriage and absences of role model in some cases are the principal factor that stand the girl child and western education in Niger State