Kaduna State is taking significant steps to reduce the high number of out-of-school children through partnerships and strategic projects.
The State recently launched a four-year project in collaboration with UNICEF, aimed at returning 200,000 children to school.
The initiative, titled “Reaching Out-of-School Children,” is valued at $2.5 million.
Similarly, the “Kaduna State Safe Steering Committee” under the Ministry of Education is actively addressing the root causes of children dropping out of school.
However, a growing concern contributing to the education crisis is the alarming rate of divorce in Kaduna.
Reports indicate that one in three marriages in the state ends in separation, often leaving women as sole providers for their children.
Economic hardships, including rising costs of living, have been identified as primary factors behind the increasing divorce rate.
Several women shared their struggles in exclusive interviews. Hajara Abdullah, a resident of Hayin Dan Mani, recounted how she had to rely on petty trading to send her three children back to school after her husband abandoned them.
Also, Mariya Muhammad from Rafin Guza has been raising four children alone for six years, stating that men have “taught her many lessons” and she has no intention of remarrying.
The situation is further compounded by societal stigma and a lack of legal enforcement.
A survey of four Sharia courts in Kaduna revealed that each court records an average of 35 to 60 divorce cases monthly, with the Magajin Gari and Rigasa courts topping the list.
The breakdown of marriages often leads to children dropping out of school due to financial instability and lack of parental support.
Despite the existence of the Child Protection Law, which mandates fathers to ensure their children’s education or face legal consequences, enforcement remains weak.
Comrade Ali Attahir, Secretary of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Kaduna, warned that failure to return these children to school would turn them into future societal liabilities.
Former Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hafsat Muhammad Baba, strongly criticized men for abandoning their responsibilities after divorce.
She suggested that Nigeria adopt marriage laws similar to Egypt and Morocco, which require men to forfeit assets in favor of their ex-wives and children after separation.
She urged the government, religious leaders, and policymakers to take action.
Religious leaders have also weighed in on the issue. Pastor Eron Emmanuel Sarki of Baptist Church, Sabon Tasha, emphasized that fathers remain responsible for their children’s education, health, and moral upbringing, regardless of marital status.
Similarly, Dr. Suleiman Adam, Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Mosque, revealed that out of 70 weddings conducted weekly in his mosque, only 30% last beyond two years. He blamed marriages based on lust and ignorance of religious teachings as key causes of the high divorce rate.
To address this crisis, experts recommend introducing Family Law, Marriage Counseling, Family Courts, and Gender-Responsive Education Plans (GRESP) to protect vulnerable children. Stricter enforcement of the Child Protection Law is also urged to hold fathers accountable.
With rising divorce rates directly impacting children’s education, immediate action is needed to prevent a generation of uneducated and vulnerable youth in Kaduna.
Cov/Abubakar Tukur Batagarawa
