By Godwin Ajom
The ratio of out-of-school children in Cross River State is 70 to 30, with about 70% children able to attend school, while 30% are unable to attend school, the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) has disclosed in Calabar.
Briefing Journalists in Calabar on the renewed commitment to boost Basic Education in the state and why SUBEB must meets their target of flushing off the status of out-of-school children in the state, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Elder Esu Effiong Esu, who’s barely 3 weeks on the saddle, said the commitment to make sure that every child in the country has access to quality basic Education trickles down to Cross River State and is not taken for granted.
Elder Esu, said henceforth, the SUBEB counterpart-funding between the state and federal government, which keeps the agency running will witness tremendous impact in the State, hence, SUBEB has embarked on an assessment tour to ensure handy and on-the-spot assessment of Basic Education facilities across the 18 local government areas.
Esu said Cross River will claim the top spot in academics in Nigeria, which Anambra State currently occupy on the log: “The aim of SUBEB is to enhance lifelong learning opportunities for all children in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 4; to ensure that every child goes to school and has opportunity to learn. Our injective in Cross River SUBEB is to ensure that no child is left out, and out of school syndrome is whipped out of Cross River.”
He said media awareness is in the pipeline to encourage parents to send their children or wards to school, not roaming the streets before, during and after school hours.
He acknowledged the challenges plaguing most public schools in the State; ranging from manpower, infrastructure, equipment and others.
“They are schools in Cross River that are in a very bad shape, some have no roads, some children sit on the floor, we will ensure that these kinds of things are in the past. We’ll improve enrollment and infrastructure, after needs assessment, work plan and head to Abuja for approval, and return to get the job done.”
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