By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
UNICEF says Nigeria is leading the 60.5 million Sub African statistical chart record of Out of School Children taking 10 million of the population.
It said 1 in 3 of its children population is out of school.
” Regrettably, 8 North states have taken more than half of the OSC population. They include Kano, Kebbi, Yobe, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kaduna”
In order to improve on the records, the agency has renewed focus towards boosting enrolment, retention, transition and completion of their education with planned introduction of skills acquisition and digital learning concept curricular to support the conditional cash transfer scheme in their learning process.
The renewed approach which emphasised on the girl child, is aimed at providing window for continuity of studies among OoSC as well add value to their future through learning other skills to be self reliant and useful to themselves and parents.
The Sokoto state UNICEF Education Field Officer, Beatrice Sababa said in Sokoto on Wednesday at a UNICEF and SUBEB organised media interactive session.
According to her the alternative approach was a step forward to eliminating foundational approach challenges experienced in attaining fast quality education at the early stage of learning.
Sababa noted that quality foundational literacy with skills integration provides opportunity for the child to excel in academic performance with the required basic teaching methodology capacity of teachers.
” We will drive that by encouraging necessary intervention support which will also discourage gender disparity as well social differences.
” The girl child should be able to access free quality basic education. There has been low transition and completion especially in the Junior Secondary School cadre. Less than half completion, some dropped out according to the GPI record reports”, she disclosed as it affects basic education in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Sababa however pointed out that insecurity among other fundamental social factors has been responsible for poor attendance and enrolment in schools while enumerating poverty, domestic responsibilities, lack of life saving skills curriculum, looming dangers of unemployment, culture and religion influence, physical disability and health related issues contribute largely to the surge in OoSC population.
” UNICEF renewed model to influence reduction in OoSC population is encouraging responsive advocacy approach by engaging CBOs, CSOs, Parents, Religious and Community leaders, Media and relevant educational initiative organisations as well interface with other partners to influence policies for sustained interventions in thematic areas “, She stressed.
In their separate presentations , other officials , Isah Usman and Suleiman Musa explained extensively on the frontiers driving the primary focus of UNICEF towards reversing the narratives affecting children education and safety especially in the north.
” The mechanisms put in place to change the narratives and the condition of schools and safety measures in times of vigilance and infrastructure particularly in girl child situation”, they explained.
