By Aliyu Bello
Kaduna State government has commenced the distribution of over one point five million free school uniforms and learning materials to pupils of the state public basic education schools.
This is in its sustained efforts towards ensuring quality education delivery at the basic level.
The event at the instance of Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) program is aimed at addressing the menace of out of school children across the state.
Statistics have revealed that one out of every five out of school children in the world is a Nigerian and majority of this number is in the North with girls occupying over sixty percent.
Determined to change the narrative, the administration of Governor Nasir Elrufai formulated deliberate policies to increase the enrollment rate of children in schools and ensure quality education delivery.
Flagging off the distribution of the learning materials to the pupils on behalf of the Acting Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, the Special Adviser, Human Capital Development, Sagir Balarabe Musa reiterated government’s commitment to enhancing free and compulsory basic education across the state.
“Children of the poor also deserve competent teachers and its is our sole responsibility to ensure that they get it. No amount of distraction shall stop us. Our teacher-pupil ratio is still far from what we want. Therefore, we plan on employing 10,000 teachers to make up for the incompetent disengaged teachers and to improve the teacher-pupil ratio” he explained.
In an address, the Executive Chairman, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), Tijjani Muhammad Abdullahi said the board has reached out to over two thousand parents of out of school children and convinced them to enroll their children into schools.
Represented by the Permanent Member, Schools Management, KADSUBEB, Samaila Liman, the Executive Chairman stated that the board also established eight hundred and thirty-eight non formal centers and hired facilitators to cater for the over fifty-one thousand learners.
He further stated that “all of these is to ensure that learning is delivered with high quality. An we are calling on all people of Kaduna State to ensure that everyone is not left behind”.
Describing the statistics of out of school children in Northern Nigeria as worrisome, the wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Hajiya Hadiza Isma Elrufai stressed that government is doing its best to address the problem in the state.
To complement this effort, Hajiya Hadiza Elrufai called on parents and guardians to continue to enroll their children in school, to enable them acquire skills and knowledge for quality lives.
The wife of Kaduna State Governor urged parents and other concerned stakeholders to complement government efforts at ensuring a literate society for the betterment of the nation.
She stressed that national economic growth and development of societies can only be achieved if children who are the future of the nation are soundly educated.
“In Kaduna State particularly, we have many children that are out of school. So, this is just like a drop in the ocean. We need to do a lot more to see that more children get the opportunity that they deserve” she added.
Also commenting, the District Head of Kawo, Alhaji Jibril Sani Magaji Dan Makwayon Zazzau commended Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) for the initiative, describing it as the right move in the right direction.
He urged the teachers and students to make sure that the giant strides of the Kaduna State Government in education yield fruitful results.
“this is a way of assisting the parents. Your child has been given writing and reading materials, has been given the uniform and even feeding in the school. So, what will stop you from sending your child to school? ” he asked.
In a remark, the Kaduna State Chairman, School Based Management Committee (SBMC), Idris Dahiru represented by Jibril Abdullahi said as the link between the schools and their immediate communities, SMBCs will remain steadfast towards ensuring that high quality learning is delivered across the state.