By Yahaya Idris, Kano
Kano State’s 2024 School Enrollment Drive Campaign Committee has convened a strategic meeting with His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, ahead of the state’s enrollment drive initiative launch.
In a statement issued by Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru
Public Enlightenment, Kano State, 2-09-2024, indicated that
Kano State Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa informed the Emir during a palace briefing today, Wednesday, that the state has finalized preparations for the launch of its enrollment drive campaign.
Umar Doguwa stated that the committee sought the Emir’s support during their palace visit, focusing on the critical need to raise public awareness about the benefits of education and the necessity of schooling for children.
“Your Highness, we are all aware of the positive role you are playing especially in creating public awareness on matters of education development, that is why as committee, we have come to seek for your support towards sensitizing the public on school enrollment drive campaign to commence soon ” said the Commissioner.
Doguwa pointed out that Kano’s out-of-school children previously numbered 900,000, but emphasized that targeted interventions by the current administration have substantially reduced this figure.
He revealed that, in addition to providing primary and post-primary schools with furniture and educational resources, the administration has finalized plans to distribute school uniforms and supplementary materials, with the event scheduled to take place today
Umar urged parents and stakeholders to support this initiative and ensure all children in the state have access to education.
In his address, UNICEF’s Kano Field Office Chief, Mr. Raha Rihood Mohammed Farah, explained that the enrollment drive campaign launch in Kano aimed to boost school enrollment across the state.
” This year’s campaign is dedicated to accelerating actions to reduce the number of out of school children through sustainable community engagement and locally led solutions.
” In Nigeria, a staggering of 10.5 million children are out of school and about 10%of these children are in Kano State, the highest rate in the world ” he said.
Mr. Raha appealed to parents, local community leaders and community organizations to get engaged in this year’s enrollment drive to ensure massive enrollment of out of school children in Kano State.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, assured of the traditional leaders’ commitment to achieving the stipulated objectives.
The Emir acknowledged the government’s progress in addressing educational challenges through its state of emergency declaration and requested that efforts be bolstered by addressing school furniture shortages, renovating educational facilities, and expanding the teaching workforce.
He advocated the use of mother language in teaching students some subjects that need better explanation and understanding as obtained in other developed country like china and Saudi Arabia.
” In this era of technology transformation, it is time to start applying new modern way of teaching to meet the demand of the changes brought about by technology globally ” he stressed.