Sokoto and USAID to provide education for 1.7 million children

Sokoto State Government will provide quality education to a total of 1.7m primary school and out of school children under the new Northern Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) policy.

The initiative, which will be funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will cater for 1.6 million primary school children in grades One to Three, along with 500,000 out of school children and youths attending 11,000 non-formal learning centres.

Mr. Michael Harvey, the USAID’s Mission Director for Nigeria, said the initiative will use the ‘whole child, whole teacher, whole school and whole system approach. He said this approach takes care of the critical supply and demand factors that affect learning, teaching, management, parental participation and responsiveness to parental needs.’

“It will also train and equip 45,000 teachers and learning facilitators who can reach children in schools and non-formal learning centres,” he added.

The Mission's director also announced that Bauchi will also be included in the initiative. He praised the commitment shown by the political leadership in Sokoto as regards education will be hugely beneficial. 

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal told those present that he and his administration were committed in ensuring that all children get access to quality education in the state.