Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved N1.1 billion for the purchase of free school uniforms for primary one pupils in the state.
The development, announced via a statement issued by Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa, the spokesman of the governor, on Friday, is aimed at encouraging enrollment of out-of-school children.
According to the statement, providing free school uniforms is expected to boost enrollment, improve retention, and ensure equal opportunity.
He emphasised that education is a right, not a privilege, and this initiative will ease the burden on parents.
“The move aims to attract out-of-school children into classrooms and complements other education reforms, aligning with the government’s comprehensive education agenda.”
In the statement, Governor Yusuf described the gesture as part of his administration’s comprehensive education reform agenda aimed at boosting enrollment, improving retention, and ensuring equal opportunities for children regardless of background.”
“We recognize the burden many parents face in meeting the needs of their children. By providing uniforms to new pupils, we are not only easing that burden but also sending a strong message that education is a right, not a privilege,” Yusuf said.
“He further explained that the intervention would serve as a strategy to attract children roaming the streets into classrooms, thereby curbing the out-of-school crisis that has continued to pose a challenge to the state and the nation at large” the statement added.
“The initiative is also expected to complement other education reforms recently introduced by the Yusuf administration, including the renovation of dilapidated schools, provision of teaching materials, and recruitment of teachers.”