The Jigawa State House of Assembly says it has declared a state of emergency on education to address out-of-school children syndrome.

The speaker, Haruna Dangyatum, stated this on Saturday in Kaduna at a one-day meeting with the legislators. The Jigawa State Basic Education Board (SUBEB) organised the meeting.

The development came after a report by the Jigawa State Bureau of Statistics, which indicated that 38.5 per cent of children aged five – 14 are out-of-school, while 32.3 per cent of the youths between 15 – 17 years did not attend school.

Mr Dangyatum described as “alarming” the spate of out-of-school children in the state, adding that the legislators would initiate viable intervention to address the problem in their respective constituencies.

“I ordered honourable members to move to their wards in order to investigate the figures in their areas so that we can synergise and bring a lasting solution.

“We have been trusted by our people; therefore, it is an obligation on us to address this issue, even if it means using our personal resources,” he said.

Abubakar Jallo (APC -Hadejia State Constituency) stressed the need for collaborative efforts to address the menace.

He urged stakeholders in the education sector to study and differentiate between the out-of-school children and pupils of the non-formal Qur’anic school, otherwise called “Almajiri”.

“Whenever the issue of out-of-school children arises, our minds take us to the Almajiri, who are in the informal schools.

“But we have failed to admit that there are children in our communities who don’t even have access to both formal and informal education for one reason or the other,” he said.

Haruna Adamu, the chairman of the SUBEB, said the board would follow up on legislators’ commitment to address the problem.

Mr Adamu said the board has a good working relationship with the legislature, adding that “we will give a close monitoring to ensure each member obeys the directive.”

Meanwhile, the Jigawa Assembly signed a pact with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to enhance collaboration for effective intervention to address the out-of-school children in the state. 

(NAN)