By Hassan Ibrahim
The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has launched a public awareness and enrolment campaign aimed at tackling the challenge of out-of-school children across the state.
The campaign, held in Zaria, seeks to encourage parents, guardians and caregivers to enrol their children in school and ensure that those who have dropped out return to the classroom.
The initiative is being implemented across the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State under the theme, “Every Child Deserves an Education – Let Us Bring Our Children Back to School.”
The campaign followed the directive of the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, to intensify efforts towards ensuring that children who are out of school, as well as those who started their education but dropped out before completion, are given the opportunity to return to school.
Speaking during the sensitisation campaign, the Education Secretary Zaria Local Government Education Authority Hassana Mohammed Lawal, described education as one of the most important tools for addressing social and economic challenges and improving the quality of life of individuals and communities.
She said the Kaduna State Government had provided schools and other educational facilities in Dutsen Abba District, covering primary and post-primary education, as part of efforts to make learning more accessible to children.
According to her, the campaign is not restricted to Zaria Local Government, as neighbouring local governments are also being encouraged to support the initiative. She stressed that the major objective is to ensure that children in every community, including those in hard-to-reach areas, have access to education and are given the opportunity to become productive members of society.
Hassana identified the practice by some parents in rural communities of taking their children to farms, particularly during the rainy season, as one of the challenges affecting school enrolment and retention.
She therefore appealed to parents and community members to cooperate with the government and education authorities by ensuring that children attend school regularly and remain in school until they complete their education.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Zaria Local Government, Engineer Jamael Ahmad Muhammad, represented by the council's Secretary, Shuaibu Abdullahi, mai kanta said the campaign was designed to complement the Kaduna State Government's efforts to provide access to education for children across the state.
He called on parents, traditional leaders, community members and other stakeholders to support government policies and programmes aimed at improving school enrolment and reducing the number of children who are out of school.
The sensitisation rally commenced from the entrance of the Zazzau Emirate Palace and proceeded to Durumi Bakin Kasuwa, with participation from education authorities, teachers' unions and teachers from various schools across Zaria Local Government.
The organisers said the campaign would continue to mobilise communities and stakeholders towards taking collective responsibility for ensuring that every child is enrolled in school and given the opportunity to acquire quality education.
They reiterated the message of the campaign that every child deserves an education, urging parents and caregivers to bring their children back to school and help secure a better future for them and the society.
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