Nasarawa State to Enforce School Attendance with Mobile Courts for Parents

The Nasarawa State Government has taken a decisive step to tackle the issue of out-of-school children by directing the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to initiate an advocacy campaign aimed at ensuring all school-age children return to the classroom. This initiative comes amid increasing concerns over the number of children found loitering on the streets during school hours, prompting the state to consider more stringent measures.

During a recent media briefing in Lafia, Mr. Peter Ahemba, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, outlined the government's plans, which include the potential establishment of mobile courts. These courts would be tasked with prosecuting parents who fail to ensure their children attend school. Ahemba emphasized that the mobile courts would act as a deterrent, reinforcing the importance of education and parental responsibility.

Before implementing these enforcement measures, the government plans to conduct an extensive advocacy campaign. This campaign will educate parents about the legal obligations and moral imperatives of sending their children to school. A task force will be established to monitor the streets, identifying children who are not in school, and subsequently tracing their parents for possible prosecution.

“Because at the end of that advocacy tour by the State Universal Basic Education Board, we want to ensure that our children of school age who are not in school are accounted for,” Ahemba stated.

The move reflects a growing trend among Nigerian states to enforce educational policies more rigorously, aiming to improve literacy rates and reduce the number of children outside the educational system. With the government's commitment to tackling this issue, Nasarawa is positioning itself as a leader in educational reform within the region.