Kaduna, UNICEF partner to reduce out-of-school children

The Kaduna State Government has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund to support the Reaching Out-of-School Children project, aimed at providing quality education to over 200,000 out-of-school children in the state.

The deputy of the state, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, who stated this at the signing ceremony at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna on Friday, said the project was to ensure that children in the state had access to quality education regardless of their circumstances.

“This project marks a crucial step in our shared commitment to ensuring that children in Kaduna State have access to quality education, irrespective of their circumstances,” she said.

In addition, Balarabe said the project seeks to transform the narrative of out-of-school children, particularly girls, children with disabilities, and adolescents, by providing a pathway to education, opportunities, and a brighter future.

She also commended UNICEF and other partners, including the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Global Partnership for Education, Education Above All, and Save the Children International, for their support.

“We anticipate that over 200,000 out-of-school children will be reintegrated into the education system, while more than 1.2 million primary school pupils will benefit from better facilities and learning materials.

“In addition, over 36,000 key stakeholders, including teachers, head teachers, and local education authorities, will receive vital training and capacity development,” Balarabe added.