The Governor Uba Sani-led administration in Kaduna State has announced plans, in partnership with international organizations, to build 102 new schools, renovate 170 existing ones, and reintegrate 200,000 out-of-school children back into education.
Ezra Angai, the Project Coordinator for Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC), led an advocacy visit to the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Liman Dahiru. During the visit, Angai emphasized the government’s strong commitment to providing quality, affordable, and inclusive education for every child in Kaduna.
Mr. Angai stated that the state government has partnered with organizations such as the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Education Above All (EAA), Save the Children International (SCI), and UNICEF to tackle the issue of out-of-school children.
He explained that this project, an initiative of the Kaduna State Government, aims to reduce the number of out-of-school children. The administration of Senator Uba Sani has prioritized education and is determined to lower the statistics of out-of-school children in the state.
The Project Coordinator further informed the Speaker that the initiative would be implemented over a four-year period across all 23 local government areas of the state. He reiterated three key objectives of the project: ensuring access to quality and inclusive education through the construction of 102 new schools and the renovation of 170 existing ones, enhancing the quality of education through teacher training and capacity building, and providing teaching and learning materials to guarantee a meaningful educational experience for the returning students. The third objective focuses on strengthening the education system itself.
“The project will work to improve the quality of education by training teachers and building their capacity, as well as supplying necessary teaching and learning materials. This will ensure that children returning to school receive a quality education,” said Angai. “A lot still needs to be done to improve education in Kaduna State, but the state government has already made strides, allocating 25% of its last budget to education. This commitment reflects the seriousness with which Kaduna State views education and underscores the importance of proper budget administration.”
“The aim is to ensure that staff within the education sector receive the training and capacity-building support necessary to manage the sector effectively and maintain the project’s gains. Ultimately, the project aims to return 200,000 out-of-school children to school.”
During the session, the Majority Leader, accompanying the Speaker, expressed her support for the initiative. She shared that her NGO has been working for a decade to bring out-of-school children back to the classroom, aligning strongly with the project’s goals.
In response, Speaker Hon. Liman Dahiru affirmed that the initiative was timely and assured that he and his colleagues would provide full support. “Education is the key to improving the lives of children in Kaduna State,” he said, promising legislative backing for any bills that support or enhance efforts to bring out-of-school children back to school.
The Speaker also assured the project team of an open-door policy, encouraging them to keep the House informed on project progress and reiterating the legislature’s commitment to supporting the initiative fully, including enacting necessary legislation for its successful implementation.