Education key to curb insecurity, economic challenges — SBMC Chair
By:Femi Oyelola
The Chairman of the School-Based Management Committees (SBMC) for Kaduna South, Alhaji Abubakar Abdulkadir, has said that, education Shapens Moral Conduct. Saying, education is vital for addressing insecurity and economic issues in the country.
He made this remark during the launch of the distribution of Learners’ Kits under the Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) project.
The SBMC Chairman who is also Sarkin Badikko urged parents and community leaders to ensure that all school-age children attend school, expressing concern over the lack of access to early childhood education in Kaduna State.
He commended Governor Senator Uba Sani for his commitment to inclusive education through the ROOSC project.
The Director of Planning at the State Ministry of Education, Salisu Bala, explained that the ROOSC project aims to provide quality primary education for children aged 6-11 and adolescents aged 12-18 who are out of school.
Funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in partnership with organizations such as Save the Children and UNICEF, the project will construct 102 new schools and renovate
He added, “The project will construct 102 new schools and renovate 170 existing ones, targeting a total of 200,000 out-of-school children over four years across the 23 local government areas.”
Similarly, the State Coordinator of ROOSC, Mr. Ezra Angai, emphasized that the project is an initiative of the Kaduna State Government in collaboration with development and implementing partners.
He noted that activities such as the distribution of kits and training are conducted by Save the Children under the Kaduna State Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, which operates under the Ministry of Education.
The government has secured soft loans and grants to implement the program aimed at addressing the issue of out-of-school children in Kaduna State. “Save the Children and UNICEF have been appointed by the government through the Ministry of Education to improve the quality of learning (Save the Children) and strengthen the education system (UNICEF),” he said.
Mr. Emmanuel Mbursa Madu from Save the Children expressed excitement about distributing 100,000 learning kits, highlighting the goal of reintegrating children into education. He emphasized the importance of community ownership for sustainability, aiming to empower local leaders in managing the project.
Overall, the ROOSC initiative focuses on improving educational access and quality for children in Kaduna State through essential learning materials and community involvement.
The State Team Lead of Save the Children, Mallam Tanko Mohammed Langaya, disclosed that one of the targets of the ROOSC project is the distribution of 500,000 teaching and learning materials to children in schools.
He explained that a key activity under the ROOSC project is to support children’s education, promote school enrollment, retention, and completion, and improve learners’ performance in school.
“The learning materials emphasized are not merely supplementary; they are foundational to quality education. Ensuring that every child has access to age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and engaging materials is a crucial step toward achieving inclusive and equitable learning for all children in Kaduna State.
“Learning materials are essential tools that support and enhance the teaching and learning process in schools. They play a critical role in improving children’s educational experiences and outcomes.”
