Evidence-based guidelines backed by Malala Fund target barriers like childcare, stigma, and poverty, with broad community support for girls’ education

The Kano State Government has officially launched evidence-based Re-entry Guidelines aimed at enabling married adolescents and adolescent mothers to return to school and complete their education.

According to a press statement issued by Hassana Shuaibu, Senior Programme Officer, ACE Charity, the guidelines represent a major step towards ensuring that marriage does not permanently end a girl's access to education. The policy provides a practical framework to support married girls and young mothers through flexible learning opportunities, childcare support, psychosocial services, and community engagement.

The guidelines were developed by the Kano State Ministry of Education with technical support from ACE Charity and funding from the Malala Fund following extensive consultations with government agencies, development partners, religious and community leaders, and married adolescents.

A research study conducted by ACE Charity revealed that 99 per cent of married adolescents expressed a desire to return to school. The study identified financial hardship, childcare responsibilities, transportation costs, domestic duties, and stigma as the major barriers preventing them from continuing their education.

The findings also showed widespread support from community and religious leaders for the education of married girls, while many husbands indicated they would support their wives' education if practical challenges such as affordability, childcare, and flexible learning arrangements were addressed.

According to the statement, the guidelines outline clear responsibilities for ministries, schools, community-based organisations, traditional and religious institutions, development partners, civil society groups, and the media to ensure successful implementation. They also provide for strengthened learning centres, facilitator training, community sensitisation, and monitoring systems to improve enrolment, retention, and completion rates.

The launch attracted senior government officials, development partners, education stakeholders, civil society organisations, community and religious leaders, and married adolescents. It featured the presentation of research findings, the unveiling of the guidelines, and a high-level panel discussion on translating the policy into action across Kano State.

The Kano State Government called on development partners, parents, schools, traditional and religious institutions, communities, and the media to support the implementation of the guidelines, stressing that every married adolescent and adolescent mother who wishes to continue learning should be given the opportunity to achieve her educational potential.