…As signed $3.5 MoU on healthcare improvement
From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
Katsina State Government in collaboration with the United National Children Fund (UNICEF) has integrated over 53,000 Almajiris into Western Education.
State Commissioner of Education, Prof. Badamasi Lawal Charanchi revealed this during an interactive session with United Nation (UN) team led by the United National Development Programme (UNDP) representative in Nigeria, Mohammed Yahaya.
Prof. Charanchi said about 40,000 Almajiri are targeted to be enrolled in Western Education in the state this year.
He commended UNICEF for collaborating with the government to readmit over 20,000 Almajiris into school that dropped out from public schools.
On Reading and Numeracy Programme (RANA), he said the programmes that kicked off in three local governments has extended to 12 local government councils, adding that the programme has improved learning and teaching among primary school pupils.
The commissioner appealed to UNICEF to assist the state with modern technology and intelligence gathering to ensure the safety of the school environment from possible attack by bandits.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Katsina State Government have agreed to on $3.5 million Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to boost primary healthcare services throughout the state by 2022.
Mr. Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, revealed this during an interactive session with Governor Aminu Bello Masari and other stakeholders.
Hawkins said UNICEF would reinforce its commitment to education and security of education in the state, adding that “UNICEF is very committed to what happens in Katsina state, particularly in education.”
He commended the state government for its record of achievement in the areas of girl child education, date information and school based management committees.
Earlier, the team met with pupils of Abukur Primary School to check for improvement in terms of equitable access to education, literacy rate (RANA MODEL) and safe school initiative.
