Malala Fund Calls for Massive Investment, Inclusive Policy in Girl Education 

Funmi Ogundare 

The Co-founder of the Malala Fund, Ms Malala Yousafzi , yesterday, called on state and federal governments to ensure gender-inclusive policy and massive investment in education so as to build stronger economies and better societies.

Yousafzi, who is on an advocacy visit on education to Nigeria, to mark her 26th birthday, and 10 years of delivering a speech at the United Nations, told THISDAY in a virtual interview that such move would also help countries in addressing issues of poverty, climate change, economic growth, among others.

She expressed concern about the poor enrollment into schools for girls, and the high number of out-of-school children, saying that  enrollment is going at a very slow pace, hence the need for governments to make the financial commitment and have policies for education that are  gender inclusive.

According to her,  “we know that there are still about 120 million girls who are out-of-school. I don’t know how many more decades it could take, it could take more than a century, but I want to make sure that in our life time, all girls can have access to complete education.”

The co- founder also emphasised on  schools dropout rate which was playing a  significant role on why girls cannot complete their education.

Yousafzi, stated that this could lead to child or forced marriage,  gender stereotypes, poverty and sometimes, girls being considered less important than the boys. 

“They may feel that their education is not important or the quality of education is not good or girls are feeling unsafe in the classroom, they don’t have the  menstrual hygiene products or that the quality of teaching is not good. 

“So there are challenges that prevent girls from going to school. We need to ensure that girls are enrolled into schools and do not drop out. 

“We also have a system whereby girls who have been left behind are able to catch up on what they have missed  and continue their education. 

“So they need a more supportive, gender inclusive and sensitive system, so as to address the issues of girls missing out on education,” she added.

The co- founder stated that she had been meeting leaders around the world to be the voice of girls who are in need, adding, “I want to make sure I use the opportunity to highlight the challenges girls face in education and remind leaders that if they care about progress and development in their country, they can in fact invest in girls education which is the foundation of building stronger economies and better societies.”

She explained that the Malala Fund had been empowering activists who are in turn working with teachers in  training and supporting girls.

“They are also doing advocacy asking state governors, legislators and government officials to take decisions that can impact girls in the country level on a big scale.”