777,000 out-of-school children in Bauchi, worrisome – UNICEF

Mr Bahnu Pathak, Chief Field Officer of United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF), Field Officer, on Wednesday decried the one million out-of-school children in Bauchi State, describing the situation as worrisome.

It was reported that the UNICEF recently announced that out of 1.2 million school-age children in Bauchi State, 777,000 were out of school.

‎Pathak expressed the worry at the symbolic children’s take-over of the UNICEF Bauchi field office to commemorate the 2018 World Children’s Day.

He urged the government to work hard to ensure that school-aged children were fully enrolled in schools.

“If we want these children to take their places at the head of tables around the world, they need first to survive, they need to thrive and develop.

‎“This requires quality education in a safe environment, and good and affordable healthcare.

“These and others are among the ingredients necessary to ensure that today’s children can take charge of national development tomorrow.

‎Pathak stressed that UNICEF wants to see an increase in the number of children enrolled in schools. especially girls.

It was reported that the World Children Day is celebrated annually on Nov. 20 but was marked on Wednesday during the “take over” of the UNICEF Bauchi field office by the school children.

‎The children in parliament, held a mock session.

‎Miss Aisha Jibrin, a JSS three Student of Al-Iman School Bauchi who emerged the Chief, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office in the mock exercise, called on the stakeholders to give children equal rights in education.

‎Jibrin said: “to make sure more children are in school, they should be vaccinated, given access to important health services, water sanitation and hygiene in school.