World Bank Programme Raises Hope For Out-of-School Children In Bauchi

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Friday, December 31st, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), a World Bank programme implemented in collaboration with both the Federal Government and Bauchi State Government has enrolled a 153 out-of-school children in Bauchi.

The project has ensured that the children are back to the classroom to continue their studies within their respective communities across the state.

Chairman of Bauchi State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Abubakar Sirimbai Sheikh Dahiru disclosed this while declaring open two separate trainings for 158 enumerators and supervisors and sensitisation of local government chairmen, traditional and community leaders and Tsangaya scholars on the objectives of BESDA in Almajiri education in the state.

Dahiru said the beneficiaries of the programme are from 16 out of the 20 local government areas of the state, adding that the programme catered for the welfare of pupils by providing conducive atmosphere for learning for them.

“We provide all learning and instructional materials for them. We provide water, toilets, soaps, detergent, uniform, disable cycles to ease their transportation to school.

“We provide special needs for the pupils. We build temporary leaning shades and equip them with desks, chairs and we provide mats, blankets and uniforms to the pupils”, he said.

He further explained that 94,000 children were returned to school in the first phase of the programme carried out in 2020 in nine local government areas, adding that seven local government joined in 2021, bringing the number of LGA to 16 out of the 20 LGAs in the state.

The LGAs, according to him, were Alkaleri; Bauchi; Dambam; Darazo; Itas Gadau; Misau; Katagum; Zaki; Shira; Giade; Jamaare; Toro; Dass; Ganjuwa; Ningi and Gamawa.

Dahiru, who doubles as the state Project Coordinator of the programme, said a community mapping was carried out in October, 2021 in 16 LGAs, where 1,220,750 out of school children were identified, saying that the number was worrisome.

He also disclosed that out of the number 488,300 were male, while 732,450 were female, adding that the state was expected to return at least a total of 153,398 to school.

He further disclosed that a total of 2,500 teachers were recruited in 2020 to teach the 94,000 enrolled in school under the programme, adding that, “we are going to recruit over 3,334 qualified teachers that will teach in the centres we intend to establish.”

The chairman, however, appealed to parents, community and religious leaders to support Governor Bala Mohammed’s efforts to bring education to the doorsteps of pupils and efforts aimed at restoring the lost glory of education in the state.