225. Concerning the continuous training of stakeholders, the Literacy and Non-Formal Education Training Institute (IFAENF) has deployed 14 modules in the various administrative and educational areas. 226. Several activities have been undertaken to strengthen sensitization campaigns on the rights of women and girls for all stakeholders, particularly religious leaders and traditional chiefs, in order to fast-track the change in the mentality of the people. 227. Thus, as a result of the numerous advocacy activities carried out by the government, the TFPs, traditional chiefs, religious leaders and Civil Society were encouraged to sign a “commitment” letter in 2016 in which all these stakeholders committed to make girl child education their priority. Since that historic moment, the government has continued its sensitization activities every year by holding regular round table consultations in all the regions and departments to further convince local stakeholders, particularly religious leaders and traditional chiefs, of the importance of girl child education and to ensure that they play an active role in fast-tracking the change in the mentality of the people. 228. Several factors explain the low rate of girl child education. These particularly include dropping out as a result of the vulnerability of households, excessive domestic chores, long distance to school or even inadequate number of foster homes. 229. Several activities have been carried out to resolve the issue of the relative enrolment disparities between girls and boys in the rural areas in particular. However, in spite of the tremendous efforts made by the government in this regard, the disparities between boys and girls persist. Yet, when two particular indicators are taken into account, it is observed that significant progress has been made – the gross enrolment ratio (GER) and the primary completion ratio (PCR). The GER of girls increased from 64.7% in 2013 to 72.1% in 2017-2018, while their PCR increased from 44.3% in 2013 to 72.9% in 2017-2018. These are very encouraging results for the country. 230. This rate has continued to improve since the passage of Decree No. 2017-935/PRN/MEP of 5 December 2017 on the support, protection and assistance of the girl child at school and its enforcement order signed on 4 February 2019. This decisive step taken by Niger will enable it to implement other measures to promote girl child education. 231. The Government intends to open community accommodation centres in the rural areas (boarding houses) in 2020 in order to ensure that girls whose parents cannot find foster homes are kept in school. A national girl child education and training strategy is being finalized. 232. Concerning the administrative measures taken to ensure that all children enjoy their right to free and compulsory primary education, note should be taken of the firm desire of the President of the Republic to ensure free and compulsory education up to the age of 16 years. Therefore, several measures have been taken in this regard – mention can be made of the scrapping of school fees in public primary and secondary schools which was in fact the subject of several reminders to officials responsible for education particularly sent in the form of a departmental circular; the purchase of supplies every year to the tune of an average of 3 billion CFA Francs for primary school pupils and the purchase by the State of various school textbooks. All these measures go to save families the cost they would have incurred and, therefore, motivate them to send their children to school. Furthermore, from 2011 to 2017, definite provision was made for the construction of nearly 15,000 classrooms (9,000 completed and 6,000 at various stages of completion). A significant number of contract teachers have been engaged (64,000 in 2017, for example). 52