By ABBAS BAMALLI

Parents in Katsina State have called on the government to initiate a free transport system for female students across the state.

According to them, if such a transport system is provided, it will encourage the girl-child enrollment in primary school and their transition to secondary level.

The parents made the call during a transition commitment town hall meeting in Katsina Local Government Area (LGA) on Saturday.

Speaking on their behalf, Malam Musa Lawal said distance was one of the reasons some parents found it difficult to send their children to school, especially in the rural areas.

He, therefore said, there Is the need for the government to provide such transport system to support them, especially due to the current challenges following the fuel subsidy removal.

Lawal Commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for supporting the government in improving the enrollment and transition of femalestudents to secondary school.

He advised other parents that western education could not stop their children from going to Islamic school, but would make the children different from others in terms of their interaction.

“Lack of adequate learning materials, classes and qualified teachers in some schools are some of the challenges discouraging us from sending our children to school.

“There is a need for parents to give their children good upbringing, because most of them these days don’t care about the whereabout of their children and their associates.

“There is also the need for members of the communities to assist the government through supporting the schools in their areas, instead of always depending on government.

Addressing newsmen, Ngozi Izuara-Songu, adolescent specialist with UNICEF Lagos field office, said that out of their 5,450 target for girl transition to secondary school in Katsina, they achieved over 50 per cent.

According to her, UNICEF will not relent in its effort towards supporting government to ensure more enrolment of girl children in school, and their transition to secondary level and completion.

Izuara-Songu added that the transition commitment meetings with primary six girls, parents and guardians across six LGAs had recorded huge success.

She pointed out that the meeting was aimed at assessing and proffering solutions to barriers hindering girls from transiting to junior secondary schools for effective and efficient learning to thrive in the state.

Dr Halimatu Umar, the Education Secretary of Katsina LGA, commended the gesture, promising to see that majority of teachers in girls school in the state were females.

According to her, that will also encourage the parents to send their children to school, and also allow the girl children to pay more attention during classes. (NAN)