From Yahaya Audu, Bauchi
Stakeholders in the education sector have called for synergy between the management of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and line ministries to address the setbacks identified in the education of women and the physically challenged in Bauchi state.
This formed part of the outcome of a round table meeting on the implementation of SDG goals four and five in selected LGAs in Bauchi state organized by Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative (FAWOYDI) and sponsored by Actionaid Nigeria.
The stakeholders, drawn from Civil Society Organization (CSOs), top officials of ministries of education and Local Government Affairs, SUBEB and Bauchi SDGs office described the state of education in Bauchi state as deplorable and pathetic and stressed the urgent need for government’s intervention.
The stakeholders who had earlier visited Kirfi, Giade, Warji, Bogoro, Darazo and Itas/Gadau LGAs on an assessment tour observed that schools in the selected communities were battling with infrastructural decay, poor sanitary facilities and inadequate as well as unqualified teachers.
On enrolment, the stakeholders frowned at low school child enrolment saying “it is generally low but in high ratio for boys and very low for the girl-child”.
They expressed disgust over lack of or inadequate information about SDG activities among the rural populace noting that “this ignorance may not be unconnected with poor synergy between the SDG and ministries, departments and agencies of Bauchi State Government”.
Earlier, while presenting report on SDG policy and country context analysis to participants, Actionaid’s head of local rights and partnership programme, Hajiya Suwaiba Jibrin said Nigeria alongside Tanzania and Vietnam were selected for the pilot testing exercise, while Bauchi, Delta and Ebonyi state were picked in Nigeria for the same exercise.
In her remark, the executive director of FAWOYDI, Hajiya Maryam Garba admitted that field visits to the six LGAs had afforded participants the opportunity to assess the level of achievements or otherwise of SDG goals four on education, five on gender empowerment and to suggest a way forward.
She said her NGO has constituted a forum comprising the stakeholders in the education sector who took part in the exercise to address challenges causing setbacks for women, and the physically challenged in Bauchi state adding that December 2017 has been set aside as deadline for the submission of the forum’s report.
