Kaduna intensifies efforts to take out-of-school children back to classrooms

The Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, is ramping up efforts to combat the rising number of out-of-school children through the Reaching Out of School Children (ROOSC) Project.

The ROOSC initiative aims to provide sustainable and affordable education, ensuring that every child in the state has access to quality primary education.

During an advocacy visit to the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Yusuf Liman Dahiru, the State Project Coordinator, Ezra Angai, detailed the goals of the four-year ROOSC Project.
He explained that the initiative is designed to boost school enrollment, encourage active participation, and ensure the completion of education, particularly for girls, adolescents, and children with disabilities.

Angai highlighted that the ROOSC project is backed by partnerships with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Education Above All (EAA), Save the Children International (SCI), and UNICEF.
He said the collaborations aim to address the pressing issue of out-of-school children through targeted interventions.

According to Angai, โ€œthe projectโ€™s strategy focuses on three critical components to achieve its mission. The first aspect is improving access to education by constructing 102 new schools and renovating 170 existing ones. The second component addresses the quality of education, involving extensive teacher training and capacity-building initiatives supported by the projectโ€™s implementing partners. The third aspect centers on strengthening the overall educational system, ensuring long-term sustainability and efficiency.โ€

Angai noted that the state governmentโ€™s dedication to education is evident from its unprecedented allocation of over 25% of its budget to the sector last year. He emphasized that the support from implementing partners is essential for ensuring these projects are effectively administered and that education staff receive the necessary training and resources to perform their duties efficiently.

In his remarks, Speaker Dahiru commended the projectโ€™s objectives and assured the ROOSC team of the state government and lawmakersโ€™ full support to ensure its success.

The Speakerโ€™s endorsement signifies a strong commitment to reversing the troubling trend of out-of-school children and fostering a brighter future for Kadunaโ€™s youth.