The Kano State Government has reaffirmed commitment towards collaborating with Plan International, a UK-funded program, to address the cases of out-of-school children phenomenon in the state.
The State Commissioner of Education Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda made this known today Wednesday, while receiving management team from Plan international who paid him courtesy visit in his office in a statement released by the Director Public Enlightenment of the Ministry Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru and issued to thetentaclesnews.com.ng
This partnership according to the Commissioner was aimed at developing the entire education system and provide support to the state’s efforts in improving education.Dr. Ali Makoda also noted that “out-of- school children has become a common phenomenon in Nigeria, stressed the need for collaborative effort with development partners and other civil society organizations to address the situation.”
He disclosed that Kano State Government has recently established a committee to develop strategies for addressing the root causes of phenomenon including poverty and child labor. “Kano is having a unique demography due to its position as commercial hub in Africa. So, there is no state like Kano in terms of school population, that is why your intervention to education development is drastically needed.”
The presence administration under the leadership of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf introduced lots of programmes on education. Your intervention will help immensely in developing the entire system ” Makoda said.Dr. Ali Haruna announced that when this administration came on board, it inherited a lot of problems in the education sector which forced the Governor to declare State of Emergency in Education Sector and is now assiduously working towards salvaging the Sector
He revealed that the government had constructed and renovated many schools across the state to ensure a conducive teaching-Learning learning environment.
The Commissioner added that offer of pensionable and permanent appointments were given to over 5,600 BESDA teachers, revealing that arrangement has also been concluded to integrate over 4,000 more BESDA teachers this week Dr. Ali therefore appealed to the project Country Director to continue to extend more helping hands to assist the state to address the deplorable condition of the education sector.
Earlier, the Country Director Plan International Mr. Charles Usie said his team was at the Commissioner’s office to extend words of appreciation for the cordial working relations that is existing between Plan international and Kano State Government.He explained that Plan International is implementing Accelerating Basic Education Program (ABEP) in Kano, Sokoto, and Jigawa states, targeting 324,000 out-of-school children aged 10-18. Charles said the program provides non-formal education and vocational skills training to help children transition back to formal education or acquire employable skills.
The targeted local government areas piloting the project in Kano, according to the project Country Director include Nasarawa, Kumbotso, Gwale, Tudun Wada, and Rimin Gado.”I have been to some of these areas to see how the program is taking place and we want to hear from you other areas that you may need our interventions ” said Charles.
Approximately, about 60,000 children will receive vocational skills training to provide alternative pathways for those not interested in secondary or tertiary education under the ABEP program.
