The Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr Jamila Dahiru, has refuted the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) data about the number of out-of-control children in the state.
Dr Dahiru dismissed the UNICEF figure of about 1.2million children questioning the UNICEF’s methodology in arriving at the reported figure.
The UNICEF put the state as having highest out of school children among the 36 states of the federation.
The Commissioner who disclosed this at the ongoing ministerial press briefing in Bauchi said significant progress has been made in ensuring children return to school.
She noted that currently Bauchi State has 700,000 out-of-school children after enrolling over 500, 000 to school.
The Commissioner said that the government is aware of the condition of dilapidated schools in rural areas, adding that despite efforts to build and repair schools, there are still schools in need of urgent attention.
She stated that the ministry has achieved considerable success, including the renovation of 387 schools across Bauchi State, the construction of model schools in Yelwan Dugri, Mashema, and Dagauda, and the building of 86 toilets under the MARCHING grant programme.
She added that under the Better Education Service Delivery For All (BESDA) programme, the ministry has also constructed 80 boreholes and 90 wells in schools to provide drinking water for students.
Dr Jamila also said the ministry has built three girls’ schools in Bauchi, Boto, and Azare, and has provided 30,474 seats in schools, among other achievements.
In his presentation the Chairman Teachers’ Service Commission, Mal. Musa Wadata, said they have successfully promoted 6,615 teachers and employed 350 women Federal teacher.
