Kano Launches Campaign to Eliminate Out-of-School Children

Alhaji Doguwa maintained that the state government will no longer tolerate children roaming the streets during school hours for whatever reason, adding that the government will not tolerate absenteeism and lateness.

“When we came on board, we met education sector in a pathetic situation, we have 5.3 million students in the state, we met about 4.5 students sitting on the floor without chairs and without teaching materials.

“The previous administration shut down 28 boarding schools. We have over 32,000 students in those schools, after the closure, we now have about 9,000 students in boarding schools. Most of them are now in day schools.

“So the component that is remaining now is the student aspect which we decide to reach out to the parents to know the importance of education, their commitment to allow their children to be in school in good time.

“If we find a child coming late to school, we will invite the parents, explain the situation to them and tell them we want them (children) to come by 8am. And if they didn’t heed the call we will do the needful.

“The way we take measures on teachers who come to school late, so we will take measures on children who come to school late.

“Parents must realize they have a responsibility to send their children (both male and female) to school,” he said.

In her remarks, the Secretary, High Level Women Association, HILWA, Hajia Ladidi Fagge, said closure of the boarding schools is the genesis of school drop out of girls in the state as they now engaged in the street hawking among others.

She appealed to parents to compliment the state government’s efforts by ensuring that their children go to school.