Poor school enrolment at Unguwan Makafi, Bauchi

Recent research, conducted by UNICEF reveals that there are over 10 million out of school children in Northern Nigeria, many of whom are between the ages of five and 15. According to the research, North-eastern part of the country, which comprises Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba states, has the highest number of out-of-school-children. The research added that many girls in Northern Nigeria are forced out of school.

This article is aimed at identifying the reasons behind poor school enrolment at Dawaki ward, Unguwan Makafi in Bauchi local government area of Bauchi state. It has a population of over 1, 500one people, according to the 2006 census, conducted by the National Population Commission. It is a remote area with virtually no infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, good road network and portable drinking water. In terms of human development, there is almost nothing to write home about, looking at Hamid’s philosophy of development that says “development is when people’s behaviour, attitude and actions are different from those of animals”.

It is important here to establish the view of the environment. The area is a settlement of remote houses that, to some extent, can be described as dilapidated. The location is poorly planned such that there is absence of a well designed drainage system. Also, there is no designated place for dumping of refuse. This leads to dumping indiscriminately, which is inimical to personal cleanliness and hygiene. One can attest to the fact that most of the children and even adults in the area have no patronage for personal hygiene and cleanliness. Children roam the street with dirty cloth, without shoes. At the time when many children from other areas are preparing to go to school, children in this area are out to guide beggars.

Education is the background or key to success. It is also a process where an individual gets training and acquires experience. But in this community, the level of uneducated people supersedes the number of educated people. At the time government at all levels were battling with poor school enrolment, Dawaki ward in Unguwan Makafi of Bauchi LGA, is, unfortunately, lagging behind.

It is a known fact that any society that is educated is regarded as a society that is on the track of development. And for sure that society must be quite different from a society that is uneducated. Poor school enrollment in the Unguwan Makafi area is an issue that generates a number of problems that turned the community into one that has no focus. The residents of the community seem to have no future.

In addition, due to the high level of illiteracy in the community even the interactions between members of the community cannot be compared to those of educated or literate people. Morality, which is seen as the building block of any society or way in which a responsible community is identified, is absent. The residents of the area do exhibit irresponsible acts such as thuggery, drug abuse, fornication, among others.

For the aforementioned issues to be addressed, there is a need for vigorous campaigns aimed at creating awareness on the need to give education the topmost priority. Mobilization and involvement of stakeholders in addressing the problem is also necessary.

Moreover, the few schools in existence must be provided with enough of learning facilities to make the process conducive and friendly. Empowering women and vulnerable persons such as the blind and low income earners will as well help in solving the problem. It is expected that this write-up will pave the way for significant change. The negative attitude of the residents of the community of not enrolling their children into school will be arrested. I must make it clear this is only possible when government and wealthy individuals intervene physically and financially.

Yahuza Yahaya,

Mass Communication Department,

Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi.

[email protected]

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