Writing By Teddy Daniel; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
Kaduna State Government has taken a decisive step to tackle long standing inequalities in the education sector with the validation of two key policy frameworks on Gender in Education and Life Skills.
The exercise which was held in Kaduna, brought together government officials, development partners, education experts and civil society organisations to fine tune the documents ahead of their final adoption.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, said the policies were designed to address systemic gaps in access, participation and learning outcomes, particularly among girls and other vulnerable groups.
He explained that the Gender in Education Policy provides a comprehensive framework to promote safety, fairness and inclusiveness in schools, while also confronting structural barriers that have continued to limit opportunities for many children.
Professor Sambo noted that a major feature of the policy is its reliance on detailed, Local Government specific data, describing it as a departure from the conventional one size fits all approach.
According to him, Kaduna is setting a precedent by systematically documenting the peculiar challenges and opportunities within each of its twenty three local government areas to guide policy implementation.
The commissioner talking on the Life Skills Policy said it is aimed at equipping learners with essential competencies beyond academics, including critical thinking, communication, resilience and decision making skills required to thrive in a dynamic society.
He added that integrating life skills into the curriculum would also open up economic opportunities for young people, especially girls, beyond the classroom.
In a panel session, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mallam Bashir Muhammad, said the new framework embeds entrepreneurial skills as a core component of learning.
He observed that despite the presence of multiple development partners, efforts in the sector had remained fragmented, stressing the need for a unified policy direction.
Mallam Muhammad assured that the state government has taken ownership of the process, with clear implementation strategies backed by budgetary provisions and sector plans to ensure sustainability.
Also speaking, Director of Planning in the Ministry of Education, Mallam Salisu Baba Lawal, said mechanisms have been put in place for continuous review of the policies to monitor progress and address emerging challenges.
Stakeholders at the workshop identified social issues such as early marriage, teenage pregnancy and gender based violence as major concerns linked to low school enrolment and retention, particularly among girls.
In her remark, Executive Director, Centre for Girls’ Education, Habiba Mohammed, said empowering girls through education and life skills would enable them to make informed decisions and resist harmful practices.
Similarly, Kaduna State AGILE Project Coordinator, Maryam Dangaji, noted that effective implementation of the policies would significantly reduce school dropout rates and improve transition and completion levels for girls.
She emphasised that the initiative seeks to ensure that every girl child is enrolled, retained and successfully completes her secondary education.
Participants, including representatives of the Reaching Out of School Children Project, underscored the importance of the policies in promoting equal access to education for all children and adolescents.
They also stressed the need for sustained political commitment, adequate funding, teacher training and strong monitoring systems to guarantee effective implementation.
The validation workshop supported by the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment AGILE, marks a shift from isolated interventions to a more coordinated and institutionalised approach to education reform in the state
