By People’s Post
The Jigawa state Education Steering Committee (JSSCE) with support from Partnership for Learning for All (PLANE) has reviewed and outlined comprehensive measures to tackle the alarming number of out-of-school children in the state.
The effort was made during the committee’s 6th meeting held at MTown hotel Dutse.
During the meeting, participants agreed that, the National Crisis in Context Nigeria grapples with a staggering out-of-school children crisis, with UNICEF estimates indicating that approximately 18.3 million children remain outside the classroom—accounting for 15% of the global total.
“This crisis stems from multiple factors including poverty, ongoing conflict in the northeast, entrenched socio-cultural norms, and inadequate infrastructure.
“The situation particularly affects rural communities and the poorest segments of society, with some regions recording over 50% of girls not attending school”, it stated.
During the meeting it was observed that, Jigawa State has emerged with a strategic response aimed at achieving a 25% annual reduction in out-of-school children.
The meeting realized that, Tsangaya Education is one of the key Component of Solution of the challenges.
Some of the strategies is the Jigawa State Tsangaya Education Board, established one year ago through legislation supported by the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE).
Dr. Abubakar Maje Hamisu, the Board’s Executive Secretary, presented impressive achievements during the steering committee meeting.”We have forged crucial partnerships that will transform the landscape of non-formal education in our state,”
Dr. Maje explained, highlighting the Board’s collaboration with the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) to standardize certificates from Tsangaya schools and enhance teacher training to meet national standards.
The Board has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Board for Technical Education, ensuring Tsangaya graduates acquire valuable Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) skills.
This initiative promises to make graduates more employable and economically productive.
Other issues discussed include teachers recruitment, teachers training and proposed teachers competency test, implementation plan on OOSC from Jigawa Tsangaya education and update on annual school census and non formal census.
The meeting also brainstorm on holiday Camp, distribution of TLM, policy support, innovation hub and digital learning platforms.
While speaking on the meeting, Mustapha Yakubu a member of Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) said, the session was interesting and “we learn a lot from the PLANE , I will require the State to partner with PLANE and select 10 LGAs to replicate what PLANE is doing in the Local Government they are working.
“With regards to the scheduled Assessment Test by the State, I personally advice the State to suspend that and focus on intensive compulsory Teacher Training.This should be done when Schools are closed for holidays” he said.
Also Zainab Basiru a member from Jigawa Education Accountability Forum ( JEAF) said the forum will continue to conduct advocacy to relevant agencies to accelerate learning holiday Camp result for child to be able to write and identify at least 5 letters as a beginners.
