The Kano State 2024 School Enrollment Drive Campaign committee, on Thursday, met with the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, ahead of the launch of enrollment drive in Kano.
Briefing the Emir at his palace, the state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Umar Doguwa, disclosed that arrangements had been completed to launch the enrollment drive campaign across the state.
Doguwa said the committee was at the Emir’s palace to seek support towards sensitising the public to the importance of sending their children to school.
“Your Highness, we are all aware of the positive role you are playing, especially in creating public awareness on matters of educational development; that is why as a committee, we have come to seek your support towards sensitising the public to school enrollment drive campaign to commence soon,” Doguwa said.
He highlighted statistics indicating that Kano had 900,000 out-of-school children but said the number had reduced due to the present administration’s strides in reforming the education sector in the state.
Apart from distributing furniture and teaching materials to primary and post-primary schools, Doguwa disclosed that school uniforms and other teaching materials were to be handed out.
Doguwa called on parents and other stakeholders to support the drive to reduce out-of-school children.
In his remarks, Chief of UNICEF field office in Kano, Mr Mohammed Farah, stressed that the enrollment drive campaign aimed at increasing the enrollment of children in schools in 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 population of 10.5 million children are out of school and about 10 per cent of these children are in Kano State, the highest rate in the world,” he said.
Responding, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II assured of the support of traditional leaders towards achieving the school children enrolment objective.
The Emir lauded the decision of the state government to declare a state of emergency on education, which he said, was yielding positive impacts.
He called on government to redouble its efforts by ensuring adequate provision of school furniture, renovation of schools and teachers recruitment.
He further advocated the use of the mother language in teaching students some subjects that need better explanation and understanding as obtained in other developed countries, like China and Saudi Arabia.
“In this era of technological transformation, it is time to start applying new modern ways of teaching to meet the demand of the changes brought about by technology globally,” he stressed.
