Education
By Aminu Garko
The Kano State Government has taken a significant step towards addressing the out-of-school children crisis by inaugurating the 18-member Kano State Out-of-School Children Education Initiative Committee.
Led by Technical Adviser to the Governor on Education Reform Haladu Muhammad, the committee comprises experienced members from government agencies, traditional leaders, academia, development partners, and civil society organizations.
Committee’s Mandate
The committee is tasked with ensuring children who have never been enrolled in school or dropped out can access quality education.
Developing strategies to re-enroll school dropouts and prevent further dropouts
Improving the quality of education and providing vocational training and life skills development
Fighting poverty and reducing child labor to address the real causes of out-of-school children
Security Concerns and Community Engagement Developing clear processes to tackle security concerns and encourage community engagement for better education
Context and Significance
Kano State has approximately 989,234 out-of-school children, accounting for 7.6% of Nigeria’s total out-of-school population.
The state government has declared a state of emergency in the education sector to address this crisis. The committee’s efforts will be crucial in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target and ensuring every child has access to quality education.
Development Partners
The committee will work with development partners, including ³ UNICEF*: Providing support for education and child development
Supporting education initiatives for disadvantaged children
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)*: Funding education programs in Kano State through initiatives like the Partnership for Learning in Nigeria (PLANE)
Funding projects like the Accelerated Basic Education Program (ABEP) to educate over
