Chima Azubuike, Gombe
No fewer than 100 girls ranging from 9-16 years will be returned back to school in Hashidu Community, Dukku LGA in Gombe state.
According to the Executive Director Dandalin Matasa Initiative for Rapid Development, Bashama Yusuf, they include 50 school aged girls and 50 drop-out adolescent are targeted.
Yusuf stated this on Wednesday at Wildan House, Gombe State, during the inception of Critical Reflection and Education for Social Transformation (CREST) with support from Development Exchange Centre.
He said this project is borne out of a desire to reduce to the bearest minimum the NDHS 2018 statistics which states that 58.1% of primary school aged children are out of school, 52.8 are girls. Also 53.1 secondary school children are out of school, out of which 56.1 are girls.
Yusuf added that Crest project will
adopt human rights based approach (HRBA) that is hinged on the provisions of child Development 1999.
He said, “Due to high rate of drop-out girls before completion of primary and junior secondary in Hasidu Community, Dukku Gombe state. Crest will target on school age children and drop-out Adolescent girls of 9-16 years, 50 school aged girls and 50 drop-out adolescent.
“CREST will leverage on existing and relevant community structures, to promote the importance of girls’ education among parents and community leaders as well as increase enrollment and promote retention, and completion of primary and junior secondary schools.”
On his part, The Programme Officer of the Initiative, Yusuf Ruwa, while expressing optimism on the urgent need to eradicate the level of drop-outs in the community, lauded the support of the ten target stakeholders for their participation.