The Kaduna state government on Wednesday flagged off the distribution of free education materials to Basic Education Schools in the state.
This is part of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai’s resolve to invest in education as a major pillar of human capital development and to ensure that no child of school age is left behind on account of lack of access or money.
Speaking during the flag-off, the Acting Governor of Kaduna state, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, pointed out that the distribution of free learning materials will strengthen the educational base of children who attend public schools in Kaduna state.
Dr Balarabe who was represented by the Special Adviser on Human Capital, Malam Sagir Balarabe, said that before today’s flag-off, the government has been providing uniforms and books to our students.
‘’For instance, in 2019 government purchased books worth N302m for our public schools as part of the free education policy of the state. It is hoped that with this flag-off this program will be more structured with defined roles for all stakeholders in our education sector,’’ she added.
She argued that the flag-off of the distribution of free education materials ‘’is an important component of our 12 years free and compulsory education programme in Kaduna state.’’
The acting governor noted that as part of the 12 years of free education, Kaduna state is ‘’ providing free school uniforms and free school feeding to children in public primary schools.’’
According to her, the present administration has also ‘’ renovated over 500 public primary and secondary schools and provided parameter fences in many schools as required by United Nations agencies for the security of our children.’’
“New schools have been built including new science secondary schools, and many blocks of classrooms in primary and other secondary schools across the state,’’ she added.
She further said that the ‘’Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) and Primary Education Development Projects have ensured the construction of more classrooms at the primary school level so as to accommodate the return of out-of-school children to classes.”
“The government of Malam Nasir El Rufai has raised school enrolment by over one million from inception in 2015 to date, she disclosed, adding that the number is still rising.
‘’As important as classrooms and physical structures are in creating conducive learning environments, lack of access to books poses an even greater challenge to learning.
‘’Therefore, our free book policy is to increase access to textbooks, exercise books, sandals, sharpeners, pencils, erasers school bags and magnetic boards.
‘’We know that poor children cannot afford these on their own, especially with high costs traditionally associated with the production of especially children’s books,’’ she reiterated.
According to her, “studies have shown that when poor children are exposed to books early they learn to read better, and therefore the more children have access to books the more likely they would do better in learning and education”.
She noted that the quality of instruction is very important in determining the educational outcomes of the children, vowing to continue to weed out unqualified teachers in public schools.
“Children of the poor also deserve competent teachers and it is our sworn responsibility to ensure that they get it. No amount of distraction shall stop us,’’ she added.
