From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau
The Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (ZSUBEB) has flagged-off the enrolment drive campaign of primary schools pupils between the ages of 3-5 and 6-7 aimed at ensuring massive attendance of primary schools across the 14 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the occasion, Executive Chairman of the board, Murtala Adamu Jangebe, who reiterated the need for traditional rulers to monitor effectively the enrolment of new intakes in primary schools to meet the required number of pupils in the state, said it is a constitutional duty for the board to acquire education for all.
The chairman said the flag-off campaign has virtually marked the beginning of massive enrolment of primary school pupils of 3-5 and 6-7 years to meet the required number of pupils and absolute reduction of the high rate of illiteracy as recommended by the UNICEF.
He said the implementation of this year’s enrolment campaign drive will supplement the previous house-house campaigns carried out by the board at the rural level which include both community leaders and women’s organisations across the 14 local government areas of the state.
According to him, the board has burdened the traditional rulers and school-based management committees with the responsibilities of monitoring, enrolment and management of their respective schools, thereby expected to report any laxity and other unwanted characters among teachers, pupils and the community to have authentic data.
In his remarks, the Chairman Council of Chiefs, who is also the Emir of Zamfara-Anka, Alhaji Attahiru muhammad Ahmad, recalled that during colonial period, the responsibilities of nurturing western education was shouldered on traditional rulers.
He commended the state government’s efforts in reviving the education sector through revisiting the system.
He directed all the 17 Emirs across the state, district and village heads to ensure adequate public enlightenment on the importance of education.
Let me emphasise the value of what we would do as traditional rulers towards facilitating education reachable at the doorsteps for our subjects”.
The UNICEF representative, Mr. Charles Ivelino, said the UNICEF gives only a support to the government and acknowledge the collaboration between it, SUBEB and the ministry of education.
He commended the state government’s deep concern for taking measures to eradicate high rate of illiteracy among its citizens.
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