Abstract

Girl child education, the panacea of poverty, family disorganization and societal true development has suffered several sets backs over the years due to socio-cultural and economic factors. Till date, girls constitute the largest population of illiterate children worldwide. Using a cross sectional study design in November 2005, three different populations – parents, children of school age (5 – 18) and educational facilities in Katcha community were surveyed and information on bio-data, school enrolment and vocation collected. Data were analyzed using simple standard statistical techniques. More than 60 percent of all adults in Katcha community were illiterates, with females making up more than 64 percent of the group. Less than half of children of school age were in school at the time of study and there was a wide gap between the number of boys and girls as well as male and female teachers in Katcha institutions of learning. If the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are to be realized, then much more efforts must be invested in Girl Child Education (GCE). It is the sine qua non to a sustainable development worldwide.

Key words: Girl child education, poverty, culture, Katcha, Nigeria.