From Ahmed Rufa’i
In an effort to address the issue of out-of-school children, the Jigawa State House of Assembly has signed an agreement with the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) to reduce the number of out-of-school children by 42% by the first quarter of 2025.
The state government, local government areas, and stakeholders in the education industry are working together to achieve the goal.
The partnership aims to increase school enrollment and reduce the number of out-of-school children in the State, which is currently ranked eighth among states with the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The agreement was reached during an interactive session with stakeholders to plan a school enrollment campaign across the 30 constituencies in Jigawa State.
The session aimed to develop an accelerated plan to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.
With the support of the European Union, UNICEF, and the state government, the campaign aims to ensure that every child in Jigawa State has access to quality education. The state government has allocated 32% of its 2024 budget to education, surpassing the UN benchmark.
Stakeholders, including traditional rulers, mothers’ associations, and education sector representatives, have pledged their support for the campaign.
The success of the initiative will have a significant impact on the future of children in Jigawa State and serve as a model for other states to follow.
The UNICEF Kano field office education specialist, Mr Muttaqa Muktar Muhammad who gave the insight during an interactive session with relevant stakeholders in the education industry to plan a drive on school enrollment campaign across the 30 constituencies organization by the UNICEF supposed to European Union.
Mr Muhammad noted that “Jigawa state Universal Basic Education Board in collaboration with UNICEF held an interactive session with relevant stakeholders in the education industry to plan a drive on school enrollment campaign across the 30 constituencies.
According to the UNICEF representative stated further that “education is a right to every child as guaranteed by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, hence the need for concerted effort by all stakeholders to ensure every child is carried along”.
He commended Jigawa State Government for allocating 32 percent of its annual budget to educational which according to him had surpass the UN bench mark.
“Jigawa state government is investing huge resources to see that children benefit from education. You know that 32 percent of the 2024 budget was allocated to education.
“We are glad to have a very strong partnership with the 30 members of the Jigawa state house of Assembly”.
“Just last week on the 7th precisely we held a commitment meeting with all of them where they all agreed to reduce our of schools children by 42 percent in their respective constituencies.
Each of them signed a commitment with UNICEF to reduce the number of our-of-school children in their various constituencies, this is great.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of Jigawa State Universal Basic education Board, professor, Haruna Musa pointed out that the intention is to discuss on issues bordering on out-of-school children syndrome which Jigawa is rated among the seven states mostly affected by the challenge.
He said that the forum will develop and agree on accelerated plan for mitigating the menace in the State
In his remarks, Chairman House committee on education and member of House of Representatives, Gwaram constituency, Ado Yakubu Zandam pledge the support of the legislature to ensuring there is huge success in the school’s enrollment across their respective constituencies.
He noted that, the issue of out-of-school children has remained a source of concern among parents and the Government.
Also commenting on behalf of the royal fathers, the Sarkin kudu Gumel ,Alhaji Bala Mohammed stressed the need for intensive enlightenment campaigns to all nooks and cranies of the state to reawaken parents on the to enroll their wards into schools.
Presentation from various stakeholders were made on the implication of out-of-school children and the way forward during the meeting.