By JB Danlami/Musa Adamu Turaki
In a joint effort to promote inclusive education, the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with Save the Children PLANE Window3 Foreign and Common Wealth Development Office (FCDO) Program has embarked on a community sensitization visit to Sarbe town in Minjibir Local Government Area under the Acceleration Basic Education Programme (ABEP) initiative.
During the visit, Usman Bello, the Save the Children Education Officer for Advocacy and Sensitization, explained that the ABEP initiative is specifically designed for children who are out of school or those who dropped out before completion. He noted that the programme focuses on teaching literacy and numeracy through a fast-track, flexible approach, allowing learners to catch up with their peers.
According to him, the programme runs for nine months, which is equivalent to the six years of primary education, after which learners can transition to junior secondary school. The targeted age group is 10 to 13 years, and the programme is currently being implemented in Ajingi, Makoda, and Minjibir Local Government Areas.
Bello commended the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Alhaji Yusuf Kabir, for his continuous support and partnership, which has enabled Save the Children to implement the programme successfully across the selected communities. He also urged parents to allow their children to participate fully so they can benefit from the opportunity to gain basic education.
In his remarks, the Education Secretary of Minjibir LGEA, Malam Rabiu Muhammad, appreciated both SUBEB and Save the Children for selecting his LGEA to benefit from the initiative.
He also commended the people of Sarbe community for their cooperation and enthusiasm toward the programme, pledging that the LGEA will provide all necessary support to ensure its success.
Similarly, Malam Danazumi Abdulkadir, one of the community facilitators of the ABEP programme, expressed readiness to continue supporting the initiative at the community level.
The Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) and the Community Core Group (CCG), Malam Abdurahman Suleiman, said they are fully committed to ensuring the success of the programme, adding that their past achievements have motivated them to double their efforts this time. He further expressed optimism that the learners enrolled under ABEP will eventually proceed to higher levels of education, including universities.
Also speaking, Hajiya Tabawa Danbaba, a representative of the Mother’s Association and the member CCG, assured that women in the community are mobilized and ready to move house-to-house and across every corner of the community to ensure the success and sustainability of the programme.
The sensitization visit highlighted the importance of community ownership, parental involvement, and the collective responsibility required to ensure that every child has access to quality basic education in Kano State.
Our correspondent on the entourage Musa Adamu Turaki reported that the communities visited expressed great interest and enthusiasm toward the ABEP programme.
