United Nations Children Fund UNICEF in collaboration with Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board KADSUBEB have enrolled over 1,000 out of school children in a hard-to-reach Farar Kasa community in Soba Local Government area of the State.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office Kaduna, Dr. Gerida Burukila stated this during the distribution of Uniforms and writing materials to the enrolled pupils ahead of new academic session begining September in Soba local government area of Kaduna State
According to her, the closest primary school to the community was about 12 kilometers away.
Dr Gerida Burukila noted that, the distance had denied the community children access to school.
“Few months ago when we came here for a medical outreach, we discovered that a lot of children who should have been in school were roaming about and when we asked, we were told that, the community does not have a school, even though they like to send their children to school”
She explained that, the partnership was also set to establish a new primary school in the community, while adult education programme would be established for those above school age.
“So, we took their request to Kaduna State SUBEB and we discussed about the possibility of bringing a school here and here we are today that is going to happen”
“This community is hard-to-reach. So, it is isolated in terms of health, education and others. It is one of the communities that are disadvantaged because of their location”
The UNICEF boss however called on the community to take ownership of the school project and ensure the children go to school.
Dr Burukila also promised that, the Farar Kasa community would be provided with potable borehole water and a medical facility, while adult education will be provided for the locals above school age.
Earlier, the Chairman of Kaduna State Universal Basic Education SUBEB, Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi commended UNICEF for its consistent to Kaduna State in the areas of education and healthcare delivery.
Alhaji Abdillahi explained that, SUBEB was currently implementing its 2023/2024 projects with the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC and expressed hoped that, by December, funds would be available for the construction of the school’s permanent structure to take off in January 2025.
“Kaduna SUBEB had in the last four years built over 2,000 schools. “Now, we are going to access our UBEC funds for 2024, and we have promised this community that, we are g ppl big to build some classrooms here”
“I have also spoken to the Local Government Chairman, because the local government employs teachers for the primary schools, so we are already making arrangements for the teachers that will teach in the school”
In a remark, the Chairman of Soba Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulmumini Bawa Gamagira expressed appreciation to UNICEF and SUBEB for the intervention, saying that, education is key to development.
The Chairman stated that, 80% of the challenges facing Nigeria today, especially insecurity is because of illiteracy. adding that, “If we are able to overcome illiteracy, 80% of our problems will be addressed.”
He said that the community no longer had any excuse, because lack of school that was the excuse will now be a thing of the past, adding that, “we need to cooperate with the UNICEF and SUBEB for the success of this project,” he pleaded.
The Village Head of Farar Kasa, Alhaji Habeeb Suleiman expressed happiness with the school project.
According to him, children in the community lacked access to school especially during rainy season which he said the closest school to the community was far away.
Highlight of the occasion was the symbolic distribution of uniforms and other school materials to the over 1,000 school children
Aminu Dalhatu
