Gombe State Government on Tuesday says it has enrolled 214, 000 children into public schools in the state between September 2019 and January 2020.
School uniforms, bags and writing materials were distributed to pupils in public primary schools and Girl Child Learning Centres under the Federal Government’s Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme.
Yahaya disclosed that 70, 000 Almajiris were integrated into formal system while 40, 000 girls enrolled into formal Girl Child Learning Centres in the state.
He added that 104, 000 children, hitherto, school dropped out were also returned to the schools to enable them to continue with their education.
The governor recalled that he inherited over 500, 000 population of out of school children when he assumed office in 2019, coupled with a ravaged educational system with various inadequacies.
He explained that the trend prompted his administration to declare State of Emergency in education to reinvigorate the sector.
According to him, the state government has so far expended N2.9 billion on renovation of 400 class room blocks in basic and post basic schools in the state.
Yahaya added that his administration also established a pioneer Teacher Training Institute,Kwami in the northeast, to enhance teacher training and capacity development.
He urged parents and guardians to compliment the gesture and enroll their wards in schools.
Also speaking, Babaji Babadidi, Chairman, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), said the choice of Funakaye for inauguration of the instructional materials distribution exercise was not by coincidence as “it is one of the areas with highest number of out of school children in the state”.
Babadidi noted that the gesture signified the zeal and commitment of the governor towards uplifting the standard of basic education in the state.
On his part, Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, BESDA Coordinator, called on parents to cooperate with government to ensure effective enrollment and retention in schools.
Ahmed attributed the successes recorded by the programme to the support of community and religious leaders in the state.
Dahiru said the Gombe state government had renovated class rooms and hostels to enabling teaching and learning environment in the schools.
The commissioner warned pupils and students against examination malpractices, adding that: “Gov. Yahaya has zero tolerance for corruption practices especially during examination”.
