Education plays a critical role in equipping girls with knowledge and confidence, enabling them to make meaningful contributions to their communities and make informed decisions about their health. However, despite the well-documented economic benefits associated with educating the girl child, several factors, such as cultural norms and poverty, pose a hindrance to their education. Families struggling with poverty often prioritise immediate needs and would choose boys' education over girls.
For Tabitha Bulus, who lives with her family in Yimitu Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it took some convincing for her father to enrol her in school. He preferred to send his male children to school because he considered it pointless to educate female children as they could be married off early.
When he did enrol her at the age of seven, it was because the school, In His Image Academy (IHI), located in Yimitu Community, was tuition free. Tabitha was an exceptional student; today, at twelve years old, she is in junior secondary school (JSS) 2, and a philanthropic Nigerian is sponsoring her secondary school education.
Like Tabitha, a good number of the pupils in the Academy are either starting school at an older age or returning to school after a long hiatus because their parents could not afford the cost of their education. However, many of the pupils are also starting school at the right age, and they can only do this because of the opportunity afforded them by the Academy. Although basic education is free in Nigeria, hidden charges in government schools prevent children from indigent families from accessing education.
Maranatha Arikpo, the founder of IHI Academy, said this is why she established the school for indigent children in the community.
"During an outreach to the community, I noticed that there were many children out in the streets despite it being a school morning. I spoke to several parents who said they could not afford to send their children to school. I then asked them, 'If I start a free school here will you bring them?' They all said yes, and that is what birthed the Academy," Arikpo said.
She met with the community head, who showed her two uncompleted buildings she could use, and in July 2018, the not-for-profit school for children in hard-to-reach areas officially opened.
A fundamental right
Education is a fundamental right and the basis for progress in every country. Higher levels of education often lead to better employment opportunities, income stability, and improved access to resources, including healthcare. Improved health outcomes, in turn, contribute to increased educational attainment and better socio-economic prospects.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 aims to "ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes" by 2030. However, according to a policy paper on the out-of-school population in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria has 19.7 million out-of-school children, the third largest globally. The report further revealed that the number of out-of-school children of primary school age increased by 50% from 6.4 to 9.7 million, as the out-of-school rate has remained constant at 28% since 2010.
Several factors, including economic challenges, such as poverty, prevent many families from affording education-related expenses like school fees, uniforms, and textbooks, contributing to the high rate of out-of-school children.
Adjusting the strategy
In His Image Academy aims to nurture indigent children in a loving and conducive learning environment, preparing them to become builders of a healthy society where families can thrive regardless of their social status. "We started with two classes, 26 pupils and two volunteer teachers. In June 2023, five years and 11 months later, we have six classes, 140 pupils and five teachers," said Arikpo. The school follows the curriculum approved by the Federal Ministry of Education and accepts students from pre-nursery to primary five.
The focus on pre-primary education is particularly notable as, according to the Lancet, recognising and prioritising early childhood education will help strengthen a country's education system and population health.
In the beginning, the school was tuition free for all pupils. "Individuals donated money for school uniforms, we received used books, and our teachers were volunteers, so we could run it free. But when community members saw our results, they began withdrawing their children from other schools and bringing them here," said Arikpo. Therefore, they introduced tuition fees. However, two things stood out: their fees were lower than what pupils in other schools pay, and instead of sending pupils away when they do not pay their fees, they agree with the parents to pay in instalments.
Empowering widows and the girl child
IHI Academy is particular about the plight of widows and the girl child. They identify the pupils whose parents cannot afford tuition fees and place them on a scholarship. Esther Samaila, from Borno State, said, "When we run from our village, we no get money, so I no fit put Brskilla for school. As Aunty start this school, she come help me make I bring Briskilla when she be nine years put am for this school, and we no pay any money. When I bring Brskilla she no dey fit write her name, but now dem don teach am well and she don enter secondary school."
Diana Bitrus, a mother of two, says she would never have been able to enrol her then-six-year-old daughter, Rebecca, but not for the scholarship she received. Rebecca is now nine, and Diana says it was one of her best decisions. However, there's no scholarship for her 2-year-old daughter, and she is waiting until she can afford the fees to enrol her in the Academy.
Beyond education: Hygiene and birth registration drives
Arikpo revealed that where other schools carry out fee drives during which they send children home from school for non-payment of fees, IHI does hygiene and birth registration drives. "I noticed that most parents didn't appear to know much about personal hygiene, which showed in the children. So, I started a hygiene drive -- we would send home any child who looked unkempt. I also started speaking with the parents during their PTA meetings. And gradually, we began to see changes."
Furthermore, since many mothers in the community gave birth at home, they were unaware of the importance of registering their children's births. As a result, when they brought their unregistered children for enrolment, the Academy would request them to visit the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in the neighbouring community of Waru to register the child and obtain a birth certificate as proof.
Towards a sustainable model
Undoubtedly, IHI Academy is helping to create a brighter future and foster a more inclusive and prosperous society for the indigent children in Yimitu community. However, funding is a pressing issue as this initiative is solely funded by donations from family, friends and well-wishers, a model that is not sustainable.
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Enoch Alaska, a teacher at the Academy for two years, said that while the pay may not be substantial, he takes pride in their accomplishments. However, he is sometimes unable to afford the 200-naira motorbike ride from his residence in Waru to the school, so he resorts to walking.
Arikpo emphasised that adequate funding is critical for achieving their future plans. Their goal is to provide the pupils with quality education comparable to that of children in urban cities. For this, the Academy needs to employ and train more teachers, buy more books, and build a perimeter fence and a toilet, among other things.
A fundamental determinant of health
Education is a fundamental determinant of health. Access to quality education equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and information necessary to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Good health, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being, positively influences a student's ability to concentrate, participate actively, and excel academically.
The intersection between education and health is critical to overall human development and well-being. These two sectors are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, playing a significant role in shaping society. Therefore, collaboration between the education and health sectors and the alignment of education and health policies is critical for maximising the potential impact on people and communities.
Furthermore, investing in girl child education and health is a vital step towards achieving gender equality and sustainable development. By addressing the barriers imposed by poverty, societies can unlock the potential of girls, creating a brighter future for them and their communities.
