The Sarkin Dawaki Education Foundation Gwaram, has succeeded in enrolling and returning over 9,000 out-of-school children in Gwaram federal constituency in Jigawa State.
This was disclosed by the founder and chairman of the foundation, Mr Ado Yakubu while speaking to Tribune Online in Nasarawa village of Gwaram local government area shortly after presenting free school uniforms to 180 children in the village.
Dr. Ado Yakubu expressed his devastation and motivation to take on projects after learning about the findings of a foundation, which revealed that there are over 20,000 out-of-school children in the Gwaram local government area.
The foundation conducted research on the causes of the increasing number of out-of-school children in the area and identified poverty, long distances to schools, and misunderstandings between communities as some of the main reasons.
The founder mentioned that this initiative is part of the efforts to address the problem of out-of-school children in the area. Mr. Ado Yakubu, who is a member representing the Gwaram state Assembly constituency and chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, stated that his foundation has collaborated with traditional and religious leaders, chairpersons, and members of the Community Based Management Committees (SBMCs) of primary and junior secondary schools in all 11 political wards in the area to ensure the enrollment and attendance of pupils and students.
He emphasized that 30 pupils were selected from six schools in the area, with four nomadic schools and two regular schools benefiting from the initiative, which is worth N2.8 million. The aim is to support children from poor families who cannot afford uniforms and other school requirements.
In each of the six selected schools, 20 males and 10 females benefited from the support. He added that his foundation is working in collaboration with religious and community leaders, parents, as well as School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) in the area to ensure that all eligible children are enrolled in school.
Mr. Ado Yakubu mentioned that addressing the problem of out-of-school children requires a collaborative effort. As a lawmaker and chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, he has introduced programs and policies to identify the challenges and obstacles preventing children from attending school in various areas.
He set up a committee that discovered about 20,000 out-of-school children in Gwaram LGA and selected 450 schools under his education foundation to support them with teaching and learning materials. The lawmaker cited the lack of water and schools in some communities as obstacles that prevented children from attending schools.
“We are providing sources of water and collaborating with SUBEB to provide schools in such communities so that their children can go to school without any hindrance,” he said.
Moving forward, the plan is to meet with leaders and SBMCs to facilitate the reintegration of out-of-school children. Headmasters will take attendance of children who don’t come to school from Monday to Friday. The names of such children will be forwarded to the village head and then to parents for prompt action.
In his remarks, the SUBEB Executive Chairman in the state, Prof. Haruna Musa, commended the lawmaker for the gesture, stating that it will go a long way in reducing the number of out-of-school children and improving learning in the area and the state at large.
The area’s Education Secretary, Malam Garba Haruna, also expressed that the gesture will enhance teaching and learning, as well as the enrollment of children in the affected communities. He also assured the judicious use of the blackboards and chalks donated by the lawmaker.
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