In a bold move to transform basic education, the Kaduna State Government has unveiled plans to train 8,700 members of School-Based Management Committees to strengthen school governance and boost enrolment.
Mubarak Muhammad, Acting Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, made this known during a six-day training workshop for 92 Social Mobilisation Officers, drawn from all 23 LGAs.
These officers, supported by UNICEF and other development partners under the ROOSC project, will later serve as lead trainers, cascading the knowledge to SBMCs throughout the state.
According to Muhammad, the training is structured to enhance leadership, improve community engagement, and promote local resource mobilisation to improve school performance.
He said the programme aligns with Governor Uba Sani’s broader strategy to cut down the number of out-of-school children and secure the future of Kaduna’s young population.
UNICEF’s Bala Dada pointed out the scale of the problem: as of 2022, 768,000 children of school-going age are not in school in Kaduna.
Through joint efforts, at least 200,000 are expected to be brought back into the education system.
Dada reaffirmed that School-Based Management Committees are vital for achieving sustainable improvements in enrolment, retention, and school effectiveness at the community level.
