The present enrolment figure of children in public primary schools steers concern amidst acute infrastructural deficit and growing number of out of school children in the state.
Kano state Commissioner for Education, Malam Mohammad Sanusi Kiru, disclosed the enrolment figure on Friday during a special kid’s takeover event organized by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to commemorate World Children’s Day celebration in Kano.
The commissioner, who attributed the soaring enrolment to the growing population in the state, declared that Kano has the highest number of public schools in the country. Besides, Kiru maintained that government policy on free and compulsory education in basic and junior secondary public schools may largely contributed to possible increase in the near future.
Although, the education commission admitted challenges of congestion of pupils because of acute infrastructural deficit, he said the situation will be addressed by the recent government approval for capital project essentially for construction of new classrooms and rehabilitation of old structures.
Kiru explained that Kano state government has sustained provision of N1.5 billion counterpart funding to access the Universal Basic Education fund in the last six years, adding that the state government has invested huge chunk of the fund on capital project essentially to reduce population density in the classroom.
The commissioner applauded the UNICEF for organizing the kids takeover event which witnessed the commissioner of education and his counterpart at the ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development ceding their position to the kids for three hours.
Kiru pointed out that such initiative would further prepare the kids ahead of leadership position in the future.
Earlier, the child commissioner for education, Al-Zubail Bashir charged government to ensure equal right and opportunity to every child to quality education, provision of clean water, healthcare, and hygiene.
Media officer, UNICEF office in Kano, Mr Samuel said the World Children’s Day was parts of UNICEF’s global day of action for children, by children against the adoption of the UN convention on the rights of child. He explained that the 2020 event came amidst COVID-19 reimagine campaign when the world listens to how children will reclaim better future.
