Katsina State Government has expressed its readiness to partner with any organization or individual to overcome the alarming rate of out of school children across the state.
The State Commissioner, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Hajiya Hannatu Musa Musawa announced this in Katsina at a Maiden meeting and official launching of the technical working group TWG for the integrated Emergency Education Response in Northwest Nigeria.
She said the meeting was organized by Save the Children and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, aimed at ensuring that all children survive, learn, and are protected in order to become useful members of society.
Hannatu Musawa urged the Save the Children team to ensure the provision of child-friendly spaces where children can learn, play, and receive the support they need to recover from trauma.
She also called for the establishment of temporary learning spaces and support for the re-enrollment of out-of-school children so that every child can access education.
She urged them to take their campaign to the door steps of the children especially in the areas affected by insecurity so that they should bring the children into the formal system of education, adding that government is ready to support them to achieve their goals.
The Commissioner also advised the Technical Working Group (TWG) not to relent in their efforts in monitoring and supervising the program, to ensure that the lives of over 50,000 selected children in the state are transformed from their original condition to a modern and improved standard.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Coordinator, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), Mr. Ode Okponya said they are here in Katsina to collaborate with the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to train over 5,000 children.
According to him, the children were carefully selected in some selected local government areas of the state which to include Musawa and Mashi adding that the program will also be extended to other local government areas.
He solicited the support of the state government to overcome some challenges noticed during their pilot scheme which include sitting materials, classes, cooperation from the parents and traditional rulers among others.
In his remark, the Education Officer of the Program Sadiq Abubakar Fema, said the Save the children is working in Nigeria to protect children from all forms of violence, especially girls, orphans, vulnerable children and children affected by conflict.
Sadiq further explained that, the programmes work from the community to the national level to promote children’s rights and protection.
COV/SANI DUTSINMA
