Education Crisis in Sokoto Rooted in Poverty, Poor Enlightenment – Leaders
The concern was raised during the visit of the United Nations Children’s Fund Country Representative, Ms Wafa Said, to SKS Model Primary School, Yabo, where stakeholders renewed their commitment to tackling the challenge.
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Community leaders in Sokoto State have identified poverty and lack of proper sensitisation of parents as major drivers of the state’s out-of-school children crisis.The concern was raised during the visit of the United Nations Children’s Fund Country Representative, Ms Wafa Said, to SKS Model Primary School, Yabo, where stakeholders renewed their commitment to tackling the challenge.
Speaking, Yabo community leader Muhammadu Abubakar insisted that deep-rooted poverty and poor sensitisation were the real barriers keeping children away from school.
He said, “We constantly preach about education during sermons. Personally, I ensured all my children attained university education, some up to master’s level. We believe so much in education.”
Community leaders in Sokoto State have identified poverty and lack of proper sensitisation of parents as major drivers of the state’s out-of-school children crisis.
The concern was raised during the visit of the United Nations Children’s Fund Country Representative, Ms Wafa Said, to SKS Model Primary School, Yabo, where stakeholders renewed their commitment to tackling the challenge.
Speaking, Yabo community leader Muhammadu Abubakar insisted that deep-rooted poverty and poor sensitisation were the real barriers keeping children away from school.
He said, “We constantly preach about education during sermons. Personally, I ensured all my children attained university education, some up to master’s level. We believe so much in education.”
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SBMC Chairman, Dan Sheu, disclosed that despite successfully re-enrolling many children, most families still struggled to support them beyond secondary school.
“We have returned several out-of-school children, enrolling some into secondary schools. Unfortunately, many cannot proceed to higher institutions due to financial challenges,” he lamented.
To sustain its interventions, Sheu said the committee was exploring income-generating ventures such as gardening and small-scale entrepreneurship.
Headmaster of the school, Yusuf Sharu, highlighted that innovations like the “Teaching at the Right Level” method had significantly boosted literacy rates, while UNICEF’s provision of a borehole had improved hygiene and supported agricultural activities.
Despite these efforts, stakeholders said tackling poverty and deepening parental awareness remain critical to reversing the out-of-school trend in Sokoto.
Speaking, the UNICEF Country Rep, Said, who expressed worry that many children still roamed the streets rather than being in classrooms, stressed that education remained a catalyst for community transformation.
“When children are given access to education, they not only transform their communities but also contribute to Africa and the world at large,” she said, urging sustained collaboration among school authorities and community stakeholders.
Chief of UNICEF’s Sokoto Field Office, Mr Micheal Juma, pledged continued support for teacher training and improved classroom delivery, while also encouraging the School-Based Management Committee to expand its environmental initiatives, such as tree planting and erosion control.
