‘Community leaders encourage parents to send children to school’

The Esu Karu, in Nasarawa State, Pharm Luka Panya Baba, has said community leaders in many areas have taken practical steps to encourage parents to send their children to school thereby increasing school enrolment and reducing out-of-school kids. Mr Baba made the statement at the 6th Speech and Prize Giving Day of Merry Bells Academy, […]

The Esu Karu, in Nasarawa State, Pharm Luka Panya Baba, has said community leaders in many areas have taken practical steps to encourage parents to send their children to school thereby increasing school enrolment and reducing out-of-school kids.

Mr Baba made the statement at the 6th Speech and Prize Giving Day of Merry Bells Academy, Jikwoyi, Abuja. He said local leaders actively get involved in the encouragement and support for learning activities.

He said, “As traditional leaders we have tried to encourage parents to take the issue of school very seriously and to encourage them to enroll their children in school.

“There is no gainsaying that education is the bedrock of any development. It is said that any nation that does not want to burn out in the long run, must take measures in the short-run and those measures include giving the children the right education both academic, moral and all other aspects that will make them to be great citizens.”

He also said sending children to school couldn’t necessarily be the means to an end, rather learning and teaching facilities must made available.

He said, “It is not enough to ask parents to take their children to school but adequate facilities must be provided for learning and teaching because the concept of school is not just the classroom but the relevant books, desks and writing materials; all these are what will help the student benefit maximally.”

The Etsu Karu called on policy makers to ensure that schools are properly equipped and ready to accommodate the surging number of pupils.

Also speaking at the event, the House of Representatives member representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, Victor Mela, said lawmakers were putting extra energy to improve teaching and halt strikes in higher institutions.

In his remarks, the Controller-General, Federal Fire Service, Dr Ibrahim A. Liman, said government was making every effort to reduce out-of-school kids and integrate the Almajiri system into the school system.

He said schools play important role in building solid foundation for the nation, noting that they bring up children in the expected manner so that they would not deviate from being good citizens.

The School Director, Mrs Gloria Jeremiah Peter, said the school offered vocational education to prepare pupils for jobs based on practical skills.

“We introduced vocational studies to our curriculum to help the students excel more because these days you can’t wait for the government to create jobs for you. You have to create jobs for yourself and others as well,” she said.

School head girl Odewale Arafat said school-age children should not be allowed to roam the streets during school hours and called on the authorities to provide scholarships and school facilities.