Adamawa govt partners Unicef, ECW to tackle out-of-school children challenge

Adamawa govt patners Unicef, ECW to tackle out-of-school children challenge.

By Umar Dankano, Yola.

The Adamawa state government in partnership with the Unicef and Education can not wait, ECW has expressed readiness in ensuring that the out-of-school children challenge bedeviling our communities are addressed.

Commissioner of Education and Human services, Dr Garba Pella disclosed the development at a media engagement in Yola stressing that the Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s administration is open to policies and programs that has direct bearings on it populace.

Represented by the chairman of the Ada mawa state Universal Basic Education B oard,ADSUBEB.Dr Murtala Umar Babayi, pella said that the project anchored by the ECW has aligns with Fintiri’s policy on education.

Pella assured that the state government would accord maximum cooperation with the initiative which is expected to reduce the number of out-of-school children noting that every child, regardle ss of background, has access to quality and inclusive education.

In his remarks, the Education Specialist with the Unicef Bauchi field office, Ado Ibrahim Abdulrahaman said that the program was meant to contribute in addressing all encumbrances or barriers preventing children enrollment and staying in school.

Abdulrahaman explained that the program commenced in December 2024 will run for thirty six (36) months to end in December 2027 and that the intervention is part of the multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP ll) which is continuation of earlier education support efforts in the North East.

Abdulrahaman stated that the project will be implemented in seven (7) local government areas of Adamawa state including; Michika, Madagali, Fufore, Yola South,Mubi,Ganye,and Shelleng adding that the program is targeting states affected by insecurity especially in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

He added that the project places special emphasis on enrolling internally displaced children, returnees, and other out-of-school populations, including children with disabilities and those in marginalized learning systems such as Almajiri (Tsangaya) adding that by focusing on these groups, the programme aims to close the education gap and bring more children into formal and non-formal learning environments

“The ECW project is strategically focused on boosting enrolment by addressing key challenges such as insecurity, climate shocks, economic hardship, and inequality, factors that have kept many children out of classrooms and contributed to poor learning outcomes.
‎
‎“The goal is simple, no child should be left behind,” Dr. Ado stated, stressing that the initiative is already creating pathways for increased enrolment and improved retention.
‎
‎He noted that the project is gender bias as it targets 60 percent of girls and 40 percent boys expressing optimism that the project will transform the education landscape in Adamawa by ensuring that more children not only enrol in school but also remain and succeed.

Speaking at the briefing, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nushad Rafiq, emphasized that children have the right to education and access to essential service including birth registration, vaccination, and proper nutrition.

Dr. Rafiq also raised concerns about the high number of children engaged in street begging and hawking, particularly girls, stressing the urgent need to bring them into formal education and keep them in school.