Mashi, Katsina (Nigeria): No fewer than 716 out-of-school children graduated from non-formal schools and were mainstreamed into formal settings in the Mashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Programme Manager of Save the Children International (SCI), Mrs Atine Lewi, disclosed this at the mainstreaming exercise and presentation of school uniforms on Saturday in Mashi.
The programme is supported by SCI, through the Education Cannot Wait First Emergency Response (ECW-FER) funded project.
According to her, the 716 children are among 8,000 enrolled by the SCI in non-formal schools to learn how to read and write English, as well as mathematics, among other basic subjects.
“After five months, the children were assessed, where about 716 of them were able to understand how to read and write; therefore, they are now mainstreamed into about 11 formal schools.
“The remaining children will continue for another three months, after which they will be assessed again; those who can scale will also be mainstreamed into formal schools.
“But those that failed to scale from the alternative learning centres, SCI will liaise with the local government education authority to see how they can be supported to be self-reliant,” Lewi said.
She urged parents and other community members to monitor and ensure that the children continue to attend school, so that their communities would not be left behind in terms of Education.
Also, the Education Officer, SCI, Mr Sadiq Fema, said that about 112 teachers were recruited for the programme, “we are training them on literacy/numeracy boost, teacher in crisis context, and teaching at the right level.”
According to him, the effort aimed to boost Education in Mashi, considering that those children are the future leaders; therefore, they need to acquire the proper knowledge at the right time.
He stated that the children were provided with learning materials and hygiene kits, noting that children with special needs were also considered, and they were given supportive materials.
The District Head of Mashi, who holds the traditional title of Iyan Katsina, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim, commended the effort and assured them all the necessary support towards the success of the programme in the area.
Mr Kabir Ali, the Education Secretary of Mashi LGA, applauded the SCI for its commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children across various communities in Mashi.
According to him, the children enrolled in the centres will be given certificates and enrolled in various primary schools to further their studies at a formal level.
He explained that the Mashi Council Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Kallah, had promised to provide uniforms and other learning materials for about 216 out of the 716 children.
The benefiting children who were mainstreamed into formal schools comprised 400 females and 316 males.