Participants at the maiden edition of the Girls’ Education Summit have advocated for enshrining safe spaces in secondary school curricula to enhance girl child education in Kaduna State.
Safe spaces are environments free from violence, discrimination, harassment and fear where students feel secure, accepted and comfortable expressing themselves without judgment.
These include the physical environment and the school’s culture, which foster inclusivity, respect and emotional well-being to support learning and personal growth.
Hajiya Habiba Mohammed, director of the Centre for Girls Education, Zaria, stated this during the event in Zaria.
She said the summit celebrated the reliance, courage and potential of girls who stood firm in pursuing knowledge and skills nationwide.
The director noted that when fully implemented, the policy will promote girl-child enrolment, enhance retention, and empower girls in all secondary schools across Kaduna State.
The summit also observed disproportionate challenges faced by the girls, which forced them to drop out of school.
The summit theme was “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead, Girl on the Front Lines of the Crisis.”
In his remarks, Hon Mahmud Lawal Ismail, a member representing Zaria constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, said a bill is being developed to provide legal backing for safe spaces in schools.
