ECCE Neglect Increases Drop-Outs, Children Out Of School Crisis–SUBEB

ECCE Neglect Increases Drop-Outs, Children Out Of School Crisis–SUBEB

By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto

The Executive Chairman, Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Umar Nagwari Tambuwal has submitted that adequate care for children, especially at the early childhood stages leads to emotional and psychological stability which is very critical to having responsible youths and adults in the later years. 

Tambuwal, who spoke Tuesday in Sokoto at the opening ceremony of a 2 day media dialgue workshop organized by the State Universal Basic Education Board, noted that, much as education is considered as the key to development, engagement of  quality teachers and good policies must be in place to support optimal utilization.  

“High-quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is not a luxury; it is the leveller of the playing field, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

When we miss the opportunity to provide early care, we inadvertently fuel the crisis of out-of-school children and school drop-outs”, Tambuwal reiterated.

The workshop, with it’s theme, “Strengthening Early Childhood and Access to Quality Education in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States was organized in partnership with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and funded by European Union. 

While noting that the issue of quality education sits at the very heart of the future of Sokoto State, Tambuwal said  it’s protection and empowerment of the children would never be take for granted. 

Decrying that the reality in Sokoto shows 66.4% of school-aged children are currently out of school, Tambuwal disclosed that the figure represents hundreds of thousands of girls, orphans, and Almajiri children who risk being trapped in a cycle of poverty and vulnerability.

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Stressing that the state government is already dismantling the crisis through a rigorous mapping and listing exercise across all 23 LGAs, the SUBEB boss affirmed that they have already identified and documented 25% of these children for targeted intervention.

“We are finding them where they are in the streets, in the rural villages, and in the Tsangaya centres”.

Diverging his address, Sokoto State Commsioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ala Ahmed emphasised the need for collective efforts towards having sound educational foundation for our children. 

In his goodwill message, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Sokoto Field Office, Dr. Michael Juma said, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is sacrosanct to having a better learned and improved generation. 

Speaking on “Criticality of Investing in Early Years and the Importance of Early Childhood Education”, the Education Specialists, UNICEF, Nigeria, Mr Francis Elisha appealed to all and sundry to support education of children.