By Khalid Idris Doya The Ministry of Education in Bauchi has stated that it can now boast of 1,808,256 enrollments in the primary school sec...
By Khalid Idris Doya
The Ministry of Education in Bauchi has stated that it can now boast of 1,808,256 enrollments in the primary school sector, with girls constituting 48 percent of this figure.
"Insights from the last Annual School Census (ASC) reveal that the public primary school sector boasts a total enrollment of 1,808,256, with girls constituting 48% of this number," said the Bauchi State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Jamila Mohammed Dahiru, on Tuesday at the ongoing state ministerial press briefing. "Approximately 1,470,625 of these are pre-primary and primary school enrollments."
Dr. Jamila Dahiru explained that there are 216,326 enrollments in junior secondary schools and 121,305 enrollments in senior secondary schools, while technical secondary schools have an enrollment of 3,886.
She added that 113,937 is recorded as the enrollment in non-formal centers and existing Islamic and Quranic Tsangaya Schools, while private schools contribute a total of 228,030 to the student enrollment.
"Therefore, cumulatively, Bauchi State has approximately 2,154,109 total enrollments of pupils and students at the basic and post-basic levels across both public and private, formal and non-formal schools and centers."
"To sum it up, the enrollment rate in Bauchi State stands at 115 for primary schools (114 for boys and 117 for girls), 45 for junior secondary schools (46 for boys and 44 for girls), and 33 for senior secondary schools (35 for boys and 30 for girls)."
"Similarly, our retention and completion rates are a total of 86 (46 for boys and 44 for girls) for the pre-primary and primary school level, 45 for junior secondary schools (46 for boys and 44 for girls), and 35 for the senior secondary school level (38 boys and 32 girls)."
The commissioner also noted the gender disparity as 1.07 for pre-primary and primary schools, 0.87 for junior secondary schools, and 0.7 for senior secondary schools.
Jamila assured the state government's commitment to continue changing the narrative until it claims the best in the country, stressing that Governor Bala Mohammed has continued to provide her ministry with strong political will, unwavering commitment, and visionary leadership and guidance.
"Bauchi State's education sector, under his leadership, continues to enjoy financial stability with an increase in budgetary allocation to 16% more than the Abuja declaration, prompt payment of matching grants, staff salaries, promotion claims, and allowances."
She expressed gratitude for the state government's magnanimity in constructing schools, classrooms, renovations and upgrading of schools, provision of teaching and learning resources, vibrant logistics, and coaching in all public schools, in addition to the existing support of the zonal and sub-zonal education offices across the state.
"The Ministry of Education, along with the Special Schools Board and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), oversees a network of 3,854 primary schools, 1,038 junior secondary schools, and 450 senior secondary schools, totaling 5,342 schools."
According to her, the ministry collaborates closely with 1,463 registered private schools in the state. It also manages a total of 1,356 nomadic schools and non-formal centers, married women's schools, and Islamic Quranic and Tsangaya Schools through the Bauchi State Agency for Mass Education (BASAME) and the Bauchi State Agency for Nomadic Education (BASANE).
She assured that Governor Bala Mohammed has repositioned the ministry with information and communication technology, making it ready to adapt to 21st-century innovations for enhanced service delivery.
"We use ICT for the transparent conduct of transactions, online access to essential services, and the removal of long-standing corrupt practices through modern tools like e-payments, online registrations, and payments of bursaries, among others," Jamila stated.
She called on the press to help her ministry in the campaign against out-of-school children through a massive awareness drive to all nooks and crannies of the state.
No comments