Development partners, civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in the education sector have been urged to present a harmonised and acceptable data on the actual number of out-of-school children in Bauchi State.
The permanent secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Saleh Yakubu Ningi, made the call at a one-day dissemination of findings from the evaluation of Girls Education Project Phase 3 GEP 3 and SDG 4 organised by the state Ministry of Education, SUBEB with support from UNICEF Bauchi Field Office.
Ningi who was represented by the director of Upper Basic, Alhaji Korijo Buba, said Bauchi being a peaceful state had become a destination for migrants, IDPs, Almajirai and herders from neighbouring states leading to rising number of children roaming the streets and an overstretched infrastructure in public schools.
He appealed to development partners, CSOs and other education stakeholders to assess the situation and come up with the actual figure of out-of-school children for better planning of educational support and interventions across the state.
Declaring the meeting open, the state commissioner for education, Dr. Jamila Dahiru, who was represented by the director of science, technical and vocational education, Alhaji Dauda Yakubu, said the successes recorded in GEP 3 Project through the implementation of components to include second chance education, G4G, Mothers Association, Cash Transfer have brought about the enrolment, retention and completion especially among the girl child.
On his part, the Emir of Bauchi Dr Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu, who was represented by Danejin Bauchi, Alhaji Lawan Ma’aji, thanked Governor Bala Mohammad for appointing him to lead the education committee.
He said more involvement of the traditional institution, especially in rural areas, would address the rising cases of out-of-school children and school dropouts significantly.
