Bauchi State Council of Traditional Rulers has expressed worries over the situation of out-of-school children in the state, stressing that it calls for urgent and cogent attention.
The Council therefore expressed readiness and commitment to partner with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to wage war against the out-of-school children syndrome.
The assertion was made by the Chairman of the Council, who is the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu while speaking on behalf of others on Sunday during a one-day state-level consultative meeting on the 2024/2025 enrolment drive campaign.
The Emir assured that the Emirs are ready to lead the campaign so as to return the out-of-school children back to schools, stressing that there is a need for collaboration among all stakeholders to overcome the challenges in the education sector.
He also assured of the Council’s commitment to ensure that all teachers performed their duties diligently, parents sent their children to school, and traditional leaders at various levels were mobilised for the success of the campaign.
According to him, “I want to restate the commitment of the Council and hope that all issues raised and deliberated here will be implemented for the latter.”
In her keynote address, the Chief of Field, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, called on the traditional institutions in the field office to advocate for the holistic implementation and rollout of the State Child Protection Law, 2023.
She also urged them to advocate for increased investment in education from the current budgetary allocation of 16 per cent to a minimum of 20 per cent, as well as recruitment and deployment of qualified teachers, among others, in the states.
The CFO appreciated Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, for his continued partnership with UNICEF in improving the education outcomes in the state.
According to her, “Education is not just a tool for personal growth; it is a fundamental right that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and transforms societies.”
“We are deeply concerned with the rate of out-of-school children and low learning achievement in the country, especially in the North-East region and Bauchi state, inclusive,” she said.
According to her, the situation called for a concerted effort by the relevant stakeholders to address the challenges in the state.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Jamila Muhammad Dahiru, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Ali Babayo appreciated development partners and all stakeholders for their commitment towards reversing the negative indices in the education sector.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Alhaji Adamu Duguri, said that education and security deteriorated when the traditional institutions were relegated to the background.
He stressed that for the state to bring back the lost glory of education, traditional leaders must be placed at the forefront of the campaign to achieve the set targets and promised to work together with the council of chiefs towards architecturing the education system, particularly in the area of the Enrolment Drive Campaign (EDC) in the state.
He, however, solicited support from traditional institutions and education stakeholders in tackling the challenges affecting the education sector.
He added that the present administration of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad has embarked on building mega schools across the state towards architecturing the number of out-of-school children.
He also said that as soon as possible, SUBEB will establish focal offices in each of the Emirates to ensure every child has access to quality education.
Bauchi State Council of Traditional Rulers has six first-class emirs, including those of Bauchi, Katagum, Misau, Ningi, Jama’are, and Dass.
