KANO, Nigeria – The Kano State Government has inaugurated an 18-member committee to address the rising crisis of out-of-school children in the state.
Since the inception of the current administration, several interventions by the government, development partners and civil society organisations have been launched to curb the problem.
Speaking at the inauguration on Monday, the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, said the committee would focus on children and youths who have never been enrolled in school as well as those who dropped out of the formal education system.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Enlightenment in the ministry, Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru, the committee is mandated to increase access to education, improve quality, re-enroll dropouts and expand learning opportunities.
“The committee is also tasked with developing foundational and life skills, creating employment pathways for every child, and tackling root causes of out-of-school children by fighting poverty and reducing child labour,” the statement added.
It further noted that the committee would design measures to address security concerns and encourage community engagement in the education sector.
Chaired by the Governor’s Technical Adviser on Education Reform, Haladu Muhammad, the committee includes representatives from government agencies, academia, traditional leaders, civil society and development partners.
While urging members to work diligently, Makoda stressed that their role was central to achieving meaningful reform.
Responding, the chairman’s representative and State Lead for PLANE FCDO, Umar Lawan, assured the government of the committee’s commitment to deliver results.
