July 28, (THEWILL) — The Adamawa State Government has announced plans to introduce legislation that will make school enrolment compulsory for all children, with penalties for defaulting parents.
The state Commissioner for Education, Umar Pella, made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting involving education officials, traditional rulers, and parents in Yola.
Pella said the proposed law aligns with the Child’s Rights Act, which is currently in force in the state, adding that parents who refuse to enrol their wards in school would soon face prosecution.
“This law will help reduce the number of out-of-school children and take many children off the streets,” he stated.
He noted that insecurity in northern Nigeria has eroded educational values and urged parents to send their children to school to reduce the appeal of criminal activities that fuel insurgency in the region.
He also commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for its continued efforts in supporting quality education across the state.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, said over 80 million school-age children in Nigeria are currently out of school.
She explained that the meeting was aimed at developing strategies to ensure every child in Adamawa and beyond has access to quality education.
“Some parents are not even aware of the importance of education to their children. Traditional rulers are closest to the people, so they have a crucial role to play in addressing this challenge,” Rafique said.
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