Journalists during the weekend reaffirmed their commitments in playing more vibrant roles in making sure that girl child education is accessible to ensure community development through gender mainstreaming.

A communiqué issued at the end of a two day interactive session on girls child education organized by the Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP) in Abuja, stressed the need for gender equality in educational opportunities for both boys and girls and for policy decision makers to expand choices and opportunities for the girls to contribute their quota to the community.

The communiqué also resolved to educate and sensitize parents, community and religious leaders on the dangers of educational deprivation of the girl child and how best to address the cultural stereotypes that limit girls from accessing basic educational knowledge.

It however proposed the establishment of a gender desk within every media organization to promote government policies on girls' education through follow ups on such activities to ensure continuity and adherence at the same time hold government accountable.

Stella Amadi, a legal practitioner and gender expert urged reporters to take gender roles into consideration when gathering their facts stressing that male and female naturally have different needs and perceptions regarding educational environment.

Amadi explained that unhealthy or insufficient toilet facilities in a school can hinder parents from enrolling their girls into school.

"It is not that they don't want to go to school but where you find only one toilet facility for both boys and girls, you don't expect the girls to use such facilities side by side their male counterparts, especially when the girl needs privacy," she stated.

She cautioned reporters to avoid making assumptions on reasons for the level of low enrolment of girls in schools and challenged them to ask questions and make in depth investigations on the peculiarities of different communities within the country and how best to address them through dialogue and negotiations.