Giade LG flags-off enrollment for nearly 13,000 children into primary, junior schools in Bauchi
Mohammed Kaka Misau
In an effort to curb the menace of out-of-school children in Bauchi state, authorities in Giade local government area of the state has kicked-off the enrollment of about 13,000 children, including fresh and dropouts into classrooms.
Speaking during the enrollment flag-off, education secretary of the local government, Sulaiman Baba said that the effort was aimed at improving enrollment, retention and completion
of school by children.
He further explained that the enrollment drive involves children education in primary and junior secondary schools especially in rural areas.
According to him, series of activities and strategies have been exploited by the local government education authority (LGEA), schools and at
community levels to increase awareness of parents/guardians on the importance education in the society.
The education secretary mentioned some
of the key processes and strategies that could be employed at
different levels while conducting the activity of sensitization of community members on the importance of
enrolling children, out of school and drop out from the schools.
He said that the processes and strategies are to be carried out by community leaders, School Based Management Committee (SBMC) and Parents Teachers Association (PTA) in every catchment area of the schools.
The secretary added that the key activities that constitute the school “enrollment drive Campaign” include; liasing with community traditional leaders, women leaders, youth leaders, teachers and other stakeholders to plan on how to effectively conduct sensitization at the community level.
Others he said are; orgarnizing a community town-hall meeting or community dialogue, use of town/community announcers, house-to-house visitation, use of flyers/posters, preachings, sermons or announcements in Mosques and Churches, use of drama and Radio jingles/tune, mega phones and other social media.
Sulaiman Baba said, after carrying out the stated key activities, a high level
launch of enrollment drive will take place at some selected schools to demonstrate government’s support and commitment to the process by LGA, LGEA, SBMC and PTA officials.
The education secretary appealed to community leaders, members of public to assist the government by sending their children to school, stressing that the authority is ever ready to enroll them into the system.
In his remarks, the Caretaker Committee chairman of Giade local government area, Usman(Randy) Mohammed Saleh said education is compulsory and as such, parents/guardians must enroll their children and bring back the dropouts to school.
According to him, the current insecurity bedeviling country is as the result of lack of education in various localities, urging District and village heads to corporate with teachers in their area as well as supervise them.
Hon. Usman Mohammed Saleh (Randy) hinted that the local government authority will soon inaugurate a verification committee on its to address the issue collecting double salary as well as absenteeism.
The LG chairman who warned parents against stopping children from going to school during farming season, appreciated the district heads of Giade, Muhammad Sabo Abdulkadir and that of Jawo, Alhaji Aliyu Umar, village heads and other stakeholders for their contribution to educational development in the area.
Our Corresspondent reports that the Caretaker Committee chairman announced personal donation of complete school uniforms to 10 school children during the event.
