The Kano state chairman of the School Based Management Committees (SBMC), Tijani Haladu has called on the state government to open more secondary schools in rural areas to tackle the issue of out of school children in the state.
Haladu made the call while responding to questions from journalists after the physical screening of an education documentary titled ‘Echoes of Classroom’ produced by Bridge connect Africa Initiative (BCAI) in collaboration with Peace First, a non-governmental organisation in Kano.
According to him, most children, especially girls, drop out of school in rural areas as a result of cultural barriers and lack of access.
He said it is the right of a child to be educated by both the parent and government, hence the need for them to provide the enabling environment to achieve the desired results.
“The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act 2004 said every Nigerian child of school age has right to be educated; so since he has the right to be educated, now it’s the responsibility of the government to provide school and ensure teachers are employed and learning materials provided to ensure the children are enrolled.
“Parents should also know that it is their responsibility to ensure they enroll their children in school, monitor attendance up to retention and completion,” he stated.
