The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has partnered with a group in Bauchi State to fight out-of-school syndrome by distributing essential instructional materials to 96 most vulnerable public schools.
The group’s representative, Usman Yau, while flagging off the distribution of the materials, said the initiative is aimed at meeting the needs of the most vulnerable children of the poor amidst the harsh economic realities currently witnessed in Nigeria.
According to the group, poverty has contributed to the alarming rate of school dropout in the North East despite the provision of free education in public schools by some state governments in the sub-region.
This poverty rate, according to them, has no doubt contributed to an increase in school dropouts, especially with the prevalent harsh economy with most parents finding it difficult to meet the basic needs of their wards.
After the interactions, the group resolved to distribute exercise Books, writing materials to the most vulnerable public schools in Bauchi state.
One of the PTA officials interviewed said the situation in the rural communities is unbearable, as children of the poor cannot afford buying books anymore and some of them have decided not to go to school again, but said the books, if distributed, will go a long way in encouraging the children to stay in school.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
