The Katsina State Government has spent about N10 billion to encourage and ensure increased enrollment of children in schools, Alhaji Kabir Magaji, Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has said.

Magaji disclosed this on Saturday in Katsina during a meeting with stakeholders.

The meeting was organised by the committee on the implementation of school enrollment campaign.

According to him, the state government is concerned with the high rate of out-of-school children, especially in the rural areas.

“Government has so far invested over N10 billion to construct new schools, renovate existing ones, and provide teaching and learning materials.

“The aim is to ensure more enrollment of children into schools.

“Government has also recruited teachers and trained them to deliver quality education to the children,” he said.

He identified activities of bandits and poverty as reasons for low enrollment drive, saying that the meeting was organised to come up with modalities towards solving the problem.

Magaji explained that the participants were selected from areas with a high rate of out-of-school children, and expressed optimism that the meeting would yield positive results.

Earlier, the Secretary of the board, Dr lsah ldris, had commended the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), for its financial support to the educational sector in the state.

Isah also appreciated the contribution of School-Based Management Committees (SBMC) for their commitment toward the revival of education in Katsina.

NAN reports that the annual meeting was organised in collaboration with UNICEF, Kano field office. (NAN)