From Divine Macaulay, in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Project Director of Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC), Save the Children International (SCI) Project, Mr. Emmauel Mbursa Madu, has emphasized that 100,000 School Children in Nigeria, including girls and children living with disabilities, will receive educational support.
He said this during a two-day Media Visibility Plan Development meeting held by the organization in Kaduna today, Tuesday.
According to him, (ROOSC) in Kaduna State is a multi- Donor Project to support
Kaduna State in ensuring the inclusive and equitable provision of quality primary education for all children of official primary school age (6-11 years), adolescents, and young adults (12-18 years) with Project strategies, and interventions that are gender-sensitive, pro-poor, and will promote inclusivity in primary education provision.
The Director said that the Project is committed to providing quality, sustainable, and affordable education for every child in Kaduna State
He explained that the Roosc Project is a four-year basic education initiative aimed at increasing access to learning opportunities, improving enrollment, and ensuring active participation and completion of quality primary education by all children.
Adding that, (ROOSC) is in partnership with Save the Children International (SCI), UNICEF, and others to address the pressing issue of out-of-school children.
Hence, the Reaching Out of School Children (ROOSC) Project is a strategic initiative designed to increase access to learning opportunities, improve enrollment rates, and ensure active participation and completion of quality primary education for all children, particularly those with disabilities, girls, and adolescents.
He opined that part of the wider consultation and advocacy mission is to create critical state holders within the state and within the education sector to support the activities of reaching out to school children in ensuring that the project is implemented successfully and the children that are out of school are returned to school and the children in school receive the necessary
educational support they need.
Madu also, observed that the Reaching Out of School Children project is an initiative of the Kaduna state government under the mentorship of Senator Uba Sani, the executive governor of Kaduna state, to address the issue of school children in Kaduna state.
He explained that, over four years, the project will focus on four objectives which are, 100,000 out-of-school children to be supported and returned to school including over 32,00 pupils in integrated Non-State quranic, Tsangaya,
foundations, and neighborhood schools to be reached, 500,00 teaching and learning materials distributed to pupils and teachers, support to 3,200 Teachers recruitment including allowances and honorarium and lastly, construction of 102 new schools across 23 LGAs in Kaduna State.
Stressing that all of this plan is aimed at tackling the many obstacles to Education in Nigeria, such as instability, insecurity, inequality, disability, inclusion, monitoring, insufficient funding, poor infrastructure, and lack of trained teachers.
“As is the goal of the Kaduna State government to it that, even in the most difficult circumstances, children can fulfill their right to a safe, inclusive quality education that will equip them for the future he said.
Speaking earlier on, the Gender Inclusion Specialist, ROOSC project, Save the Children International Masturah, spoke about Gender inclusion in mobilizing out-of-school children enrolment, retention, and completion.
According to her, Gender inclusion is central to the ROOSC project in a move to create a safe and inclusive learning environment by addressing practical barriers, supporting retention and completion, and integrating intersectionality: gender and disability.
