Tackling Alarming Out-of-school Nigerian Children: Kebi SUBEB, UNICEF Mobilise Traditional Leaders On School Enrollment
0
NIGERIA –
The Kebi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Educate A Child (EAC), project, on Wednesday organized a State consultative forum with Traditional Leaders in the state.
The essence of the forum was to provide a platform for the Chairman of Traditional Council in the state to mobilize fellow leaders at state, local government and village levels to buy in and support Enrolment Drive Campaign in the state.
This development is in furtherance of resolution reached during Northern Nigeria Traditional Leaders Conference on out-of-school children held in Kaduna in October this year.
Some of the solutions identified for the success of the campaign to succeed in the State as suggested by participants include but may not limited to the need for the state to enact a law that will compel the parents to enroll their school age children.
Others are that, teachers’ quality and their welfare should be taken seriously in order to restore standard of education. Learning environment must be conducive to attract children and encourage parents to enroll them. Government must be seen discharging its own obligations towards educational development.
The Commissioner of Basic Education in the state, Muhammadu Magawata Aliero said, the decision to task traditional institutions to take ownership and move enrolment drive campaign in their domain was the best and expressed hope that it would lead to success at the end.
In an address, Permanent Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Kevin SUBEB, Alhaji Balarabe Abdulmumin expressed excitement with the huge turn up by the traditional fathers, saying, it is an indication that the traditional institutions in the state have already keyed into the Enrolment Drive Campaign.
On his part, Isa Usman, Project Coordinator, EAC/UNICEF Kebbi State, revealed that UNICEF and Qatar Foundation were responsible for EAC project in Nigeria saying, the project was located in Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara states, but Kebbi enjoys the lion share of the intervention and for that to whom much is given much is expected.
Chairman Council of Chiefs in the state, the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, appealed passionately to other emirs to do all they could to ensure the success of the campaign.
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Chairman in the State, Isa Umar Gwandu, who expressed disappointment over the low level of enrollment despite the large amount of money EAC/UNICEF has sunk into the state noted that, NGN8, 000.00 Cash Transfer Programme to poor families, NGN250, 000.00 school improvement grant, and NGN1, 000.000.00 school micro grants are enough support that would encourage enrolment rate in the state.