Civil society organisations (CSOs) and media representatives in Kaduna State, under the Beta Nigeria Education Campaign, have committed to addressing critical education challenges, including teacher shortages, out-of-school children (OOSC), and weak accountability in the education sector.
As part of their efforts, stakeholders conducted advocacy visits to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development to build partnerships and refine campaign strategies aimed at driving meaningful reforms in Kaduna’s education system.
These visits followed commitments made during a Beta Nigeria-organized roundtable on December 5-6, 2024, where participants identified key barriers such as low teacher incentives, inadequate housing, and political interference in recruitment.
Advocacy recommendations include incentivizing rural teacher deployment, improving inclusive education training, and involving Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen to strengthen accountability mechanisms.
To address the issue of OOSC, stakeholders highlighted poverty, unemployment, and cultural barriers, proposing solutions such as implementing the Child Rights Act, skill-based education, and community-led initiatives to boost school enrollment and retention rates.
Suleiman Abdulazeez of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) emphasized the need for inclusive policies to remove barriers for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in education, including accessibility for students and teachers.
Henry Michael of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) called for improved government accountability and effective resource allocation to address disparities in underserved areas.
Beta Nigeria announced a comprehensive media and communications strategy to amplify advocacy efforts, leveraging traditional and digital platforms. Community influencers have already created social media content to raise awareness, while a WhatsApp influencer network in Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa aims to sustain engagement.
Micah Shafi, an academic scholar, urged holistic awareness campaigns to change families’ perceptions of education and suggested curriculum revisions to include employability skills.
