Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has identified the high number of out-of-school children as a critical obstacle to achieving inclusive development. Speaking at the Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) Start-Up Workshop, the governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to addressing the issue.
“We are determined to decisively tackle the problem on a larger scale and chart the path to a better future for our poor, vulnerable and underserved children,” Governor Sani said. He outlined his administration’s efforts to improve access to quality education and address infrastructure gaps in the education sector.
The governor noted that his administration has built 62 new secondary schools, comprising 39 Junior and 23 Senior Secondary Schools, across the three Senatorial zones. “Recognizing the continued demand for quality education, approval has been given for the construction of an additional 50 secondary schools across the state,” he added.
Governor Sani also highlighted the construction of 2,326 new classrooms, renovation of 707 classrooms, and provision of 30,742 two-seater pupil’s furniture, among other achievements. He emphasized the importance of quality education in driving development and reducing poverty.
The governor lamented that despite progress in improving access to education, the number of out-of-school children remains a major concern. “We set out to tackle the key challenges in the educational sector in Kaduna State in six ways,” he said, outlining his administration’s strategy.
The state government has also recruited 2,000 qualified teachers, awaiting deployment to newly completed schools. Governor Sani expressed gratitude to international partners for their support and guidance in addressing the issue of out-of-school children.
The Reaching Out-of-School Children Project (ROOSC) aims to return 200,000 out-of-school children to school and build a more equitable education system. The project will be implemented around eight strategic components, including improving access to learning and enhancing the quality of learning.
State Coordinator of ROOSC, Mr. Ezra Angai, noted that the project will provide support for a fully functional and digitized Education Management Information System (EMIS). He commended Governor Sani for his unwavering support and commitment to education.
Representatives of development partners, including the Islamic Development Bank and UNICEF, commended the Kaduna State Government for its commitment to ending the menace of out-of-school children. They pledged their continued support in addressing the issue.
Governor Sani emphasized the importance of collaboration and support from all stakeholders in addressing the challenge of out-of-school children. “We must work together to create a society where every child has access to quality education,” he said.
The governor’s commitment to education is evident in his administration’s efforts to improve access to quality education and address infrastructure gaps in the education sector. As Governor Sani noted, “Education is the key to unlocking the potential of our children and driving development in our state.”
