The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, has convened a stakeholders’ consultation meeting in Kano State to advance the implementation of the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP), a new initiative aimed at addressing the growing number of out-of-school children in the state.
The programme is supported by funding from the European Union and will be implemented by the Kano State Government in collaboration with key education stakeholders.
The meeting brought together representatives from the State Ministry of Education, development partners, and civil society organisations to deliberate on strategies for effective rollout and sustainability of the intervention.
Kaduna Partners IsDB, UNICEF to Tackle Out-of-School Children
In her opening remarks, UNICEF Chief of Field Services, Judith Leveillee, described ABEP as a critical intervention designed to provide accelerated learning opportunities for over-age and out-of-school children.
She said the programme would equip beneficiaries with foundational literacy and numeracy skills, enabling them to transition into formal education, vocational training, or other learning pathways.
Leveillee emphasised that the success of the initiative would depend on strong collaboration among government, communities, civil society, and development partners.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Kano State in expanding access to education, improving learning outcomes, and strengthening inclusive and child-friendly learning environments.
She added that the organisation would continue to support the development of key policy frameworks, including the State Education Sector Plan (SESP), State Education Sector Operational Plan (SESOP), and Local Education Sector Operational Plan (LESOP).
Agwada Community in Kebbi Seeks Support to Enroll Out-of-School Children
UNICEF also commended the Kano State Government for its commitment to providing inclusive and equitable education, particularly for vulnerable children affected by poverty, disability, and social barriers.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Haruna, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bashir Baffa, described the programme as timely and well-aligned with the state’s education priorities. He assured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to providing the necessary support to ensure sustainability.
He further appreciated UNICEF’s continued partnership in complementing government efforts to improve education standards in the state.
Also speaking, the Team Lead of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education expressed readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to promote enrolment, retention, and completion of education among out-of-school children.
Other stakeholders who contributed to the discussions included representatives from the PLANE Project, the State Agency for Mass Education (SAME), the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA).
The consultation marks a significant step toward strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration and accelerating efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Kano State through inclusive and innovative education interventions.