Promoting Girl-Child Education as A Panacea to Sustainable Development: A Legal Perspective

Abstract

The Sustainable development goals were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September, 2015. These goals which are 17 in number are expected to be achieved by the year 2030. Goal 4 in particular states thus: "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." The operative phrase as stated in this goal is “education for all” without any discrimination. This means with respect to education; everyone has a right to be educated to the highest possible level. The Right to education has been pronounced as a right without discrimination in Article 17 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, article 13 of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other national laws and Constitutions such as Section 18 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, and Section 15 of the Nigerian Childs Rights Act, 2003.  Nigeria being a signatory to these human right instruments is expected to take steps to adhere to and implement these provisions. Thus, in view of these conventions and constitutional provisions, the right to education can be enjoyed by all if the denial of this right can be challenged in a court of law where declaratory orders can be made to ensure that measures are put in place for the implementation of good quality education. This paper will propose that educating the girl-child will ensure sustainable development as an empowered girl becomes an empowered woman and mother. In addition, this article will examine decided cases in jurisdictions where the right to education has been enforced in order to make recommendations on how to ensure that every school age child particularly the girl child can be given the constitutional right to education in Nigeria.

Keywords: Right to Education, Sustainable Development, Girl-child, Discrimination.

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/135-08

Publication date:August 31^st 2023