By The Chairman of the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Adamu Muhammad Duguri, has announced a dramatic reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the state, describing it as a major milestone in the ongoing education reforms.
Duguri, who was represented by the Board’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Abdulhameed Jibrin, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the achievements recorded under the 2025/2026 Statewide Enrolment Drive.
According to him, Bauchi State has reduced the number of out-of-school children from over 1.7 million at its peak to 216,000 as of December 18, 2025 — representing a drop of more than 85 per cent from the inherited baseline. He noted that the reform has restored access to education for more than 1.2 million children across the state.
“For many years, Bauchi State faced a deeply rooted challenge of high numbers of out-of-school children due to systemic neglect, weak enforcement of compulsory education laws, poverty, and socio-cultural barriers,” he
He explained that the 2025/2026 enrolment drive was designed as a comprehensive reform programme rather than a routine campaign. While the initial target was to enrol 220,000 children, the state surpassed expectations by enrolling 284,000 learners — achieving a 129 per cent performance rate.
Duguri attributed the success to a multi-sectoral and data-driven approach supported by attendance monitoring systems, early warning mechanisms, and coordinated stakeholder engagement.
A key feature of the reform, he said, was the active involvement of traditional leadership structures. Emirate Councils, District Heads, Ward Heads, Village Heads, and Hamlet Heads were engaged as frontline partners in enrolment enforcement, attendance monitoring, child protection, and community mobilisation.
“This approach brought governance closer to the people and ensured education became a shared responsibility,” he stated.
He highlighted Toro Local Government Area as a flagship success story, revealing that out of an estimated 50,000 out-of-school children in the area, more than 35,000 have now been integrated into formal classrooms.
The chairman also emphasised the state’s commitment to equity and inclusion, particularly in addressing barriers to girls’ education. Through targeted interventions such as the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programmes, the state recorded significant improvements in enrolment, retention, and transition rates among adolescent girls, especially at the Upper Basic and Senior Secondary levels.
To support the surge in enrolment, the government invested in the construction of Mega, Model, and Smart Schools, rehabilitated existing facilities, and advanced the systematic integration of Tsangaya and Qur’anic schools into the formal basic education system. These efforts, he said, have expanded access to safer and more conducive learning environments.
However, Duguri acknowledged that the enrolment of 284,000 new learners has increased pressure on infrastructure, learning materials, and teacher-to-pupil ratios in high-enrolment areas.
To consolidate the gains and ensure the integration of the remaining 216,000 out-of-school children, the government is implementing further strategic measures. These include formally incorporating traditional leaders into the state’s education accountability framework, accelerating the implementation of the Bauchi State ICT Policy on Education to strengthen data management and service delivery, and establishing a Special Teacher Corps to serve rural and underserved communities.
He credited the Bauchi State Government for providing the political will, policy direction, and sustained investment necessary for the reforms to succeed.
Duguri also commended parents, guardians, community members, traditional rulers, religious leaders, local government officials, development partners, school administrators, teachers, and other education personnel for their collective efforts in strengthening enrolment, attendance, and retention.
“What we present today goes beyond figures. It signifies a moral and social triumph,” he said. “Bauchi State has moved from an education system once defined by limited access to one firmly grounded in enrolment, retention, seamless transition, completion, and strong community participation.
“With strong institutional and community-based frameworks now in place, the state is firmly set on a sustainable path toward educational transformation, human capital development, and inclusive growth,” he concluded.
