From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media representatives under the auspices of the Beta Nigeria Education Campaign in Kaduna State have pledged to address critical education issues, including teacher shortages, out-of-school children (OOSC), and weak accountability in the sector.
To this end, the stakeholders yesterday evening carried out advocacy visits to the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB) and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development to secure partnerships and refine campaign messaging, laying the groundwork for impactful education reforms in Kaduna State.
The advocacy visits were an offshoot of commitment made during a roundtable organized by Beta Nigeria on December 5th and 6th in Kaduna State which brought together stakeholders to discuss actionable solutions to systemic challenges.
The participants identified low teacher incentives, inadequate housing, and political interference in recruitment as key barriers to addressing teacher shortages.
Recommendations at the advocacy visits included incentivizing rural teacher deployment, improving inclusive education training, and engaging Local Government Chairmen to enhance accountability.
On out-of-school children (OOSC), the discussions focused on poverty, unemployment, and cultural barriers, with solutions emphasizing the implementation of the Child Rights Act, skill-based education, and community-led initiatives to increase enrollment and retention.
