SOKOTO EXPANDS EARLY EDUCATION DRIVE TO TACKLE OUT-OF-SCHOOL CRISIS

With over 66% of children out of school, Sokoto is scaling up early education, building mega schools, and launching digital programmes to bring thousands of children back into classrooms.

The Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) says it is ramping up Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and rolling out bold reforms to tackle the alarming number of out-of-school children across the state.

SUBEB Chairman, Umar Tambuwal, speaking at a media dialogue on education reform, stressed that investing in children from birth to age eight is critical for brain development, emotional stability, and long-term academic success — especially for vulnerable groups.

He revealed that 66.4 per cent of school-aged children in Sokoto are currently out of school, but efforts are underway to reverse the trend. Through a statewide mapping exercise across 23 LGAs, about 25 per cent of affected children have already been identified for reintegration, including girls, orphans, and Almajiri pupils.

With support from UNICEF, SUBEB equipped 160 ECCE centres between 2024 and 2025 with learning materials and caregiver training, while plans are in motion to triple the number of centres in 2026. UNICEF has also committed to supporting an additional 80 centres.

Tambuwal said the state has made basic education free and compulsory, abolished school levies, and prioritised teacher recruitment. Special programmes like the Digital Village are also equipping Almajiri children and out-of-school girls with digital skills to improve their future prospects.

In addition, the AGILE Project has provided infrastructure grants to 240 secondary schools, while integrated schools in Shuni, Gagi, Tambuwal, and Wamakko now combine Qur’anic education with formal learning, vocational training, accommodation, and feeding.

To further strengthen the system, the state is building three mega model schools across its senatorial zones, each with 60 classrooms, science labs, playgrounds, and qualified teachers selected from over 3,000 applicants.

Tambuwal disclosed that a dedicated Out-of-School Children dashboard recorded 326,119 affected children between 2024 and 2025, describing education as not just a development priority but a moral and national security imperative.

UNICEF and other stakeholders commended the state’s efforts, urging sustained collaboration, media support, and expanded reforms to ensure every child has access to quality education.