Stakeholders Mark 2026 International Day of Education in Kaduna, Call for Youth-Led Reforms

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

Stakeholders in the education sector in Kaduna State on Thursday converged to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Education, reaffirming education as a human right, a public good and a shared responsibility.

The event was held under the theme, “Education is a Human Right, a Public Good and a Public Responsibility: The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education,” and provided a platform for dialogue on strengthening inclusive, equitable and accountable education through youth participation and collective responsibility.

The programme was organised by the Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM) and the Kaduna Local Governments Accountability Mechanism (KAD-LGAM), under the Beta Nigeria Campaign with support from the Partnership for Learning for All (PLANE).

Participants included government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), parents, community representatives, pupils and members of the media.

Representing the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, the Director of Public Schools, Mukthar Maude, said education is a right that must be protected, adequately funded and delivered through collective effort by government, partners, communities and families.

He stressed that young people should be recognised not only as beneficiaries of education policies but as active partners in shaping inclusive, relevant and future-ready learning systems across the state.

Maude added that innovative policies and ideas were critical to aligning education delivery with present realities and future aspirations, while strengthening access, quality, equity and accountability.

Hauwa’u Muhammad of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) said leadership within the basic education system was driving productive integration of ideas and partnerships to improve learning outcomes.

According to her, sustained collaboration among institutions remains critical to delivering quality basic education and effectively supporting both teachers and learners.

The Director-General of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), Prof. Abubakar Zaria, acknowledged progress made in education delivery but noted that challenges in quality assurance and learning outcomes persist.

Zaria, who was represented by the Director of Private Schools Department, Mercy Kude, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to promoting excellence, supporting educators and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across public and private schools.

The Team Lead of PLANE, Mrs Diana Agabi, described education as a cornerstone for empowering individuals and transforming communities, applauding the diversity of stakeholders present at the forum.

Represented by PLANE’s Results and Learning Manager, Musa Jimoh, Agabi said the participation of ministries, agencies, civil society organisations, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and the media demonstrated a shared commitment to improving education outcomes in Kaduna.

She urged stakeholders to recommit to inclusive and equitable quality education, noting that sustained collaboration could help overcome existing challenges and expand opportunities for every child.

Speaking on behalf of the Beta Nigeria Campaign, Friday Odey said the campaign focuses on evidence-based advocacy to amplify collective voices on education reforms, teacher quality and learning outcomes.

While acknowledging progress, he stressed the need for stronger societal engagement to secure the future of education and young people, particularly in states with high numbers of out-of-school children.

Dr Ezra Angai, Coordinator of the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project (ROOSC) in Kaduna, described the meeting as timely, given the state’s ongoing education reforms.

He disclosed that while earlier data showed over 700,000 out-of-school children in the state, recent mapping exercises indicate the figure has reduced to fewer than 200,000 at the basic education level.

Angai attributed the improvement to government interventions such as the construction of new schools, renovation of existing ones, establishment of accelerated learning centres and teacher development programmes.

According to him, the holistic reforms address access, learning outcomes and system strengthening, positioning Kaduna as a leading example of education reform nationwide.

Alheri Waje, Lead of the Education Cohort of KAD-LGAM, said the event created an opportunity to reflect on data, amplify youth voices and strengthen accountability.

She noted that education remains a fundamental human right and shared responsibility, aligning the 2026 International Day of Education with Kaduna State’s ongoing education reform agenda.

Presenting an evidence-based overview of the education sector, Waje acknowledged notable progress alongside persistent challenges in learning outcomes, teacher availability and equitable access to quality education.

She revealed that data shows over 768,000 children of basic school age remain out of school, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas affected by poverty, insecurity, distance and weak retention systems.

Waje also highlighted poor learning outcomes and high learning poverty, linked to overburdened teachers, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to water, sanitation and learning materials.

She warned that these conditions negatively affect attendance, retention, learner health and dignity, stressing the need for coordinated and sustained reforms.

Among her recommendations were targeted literacy programmes, continuous teacher training, incentives for rural postings, community awareness campaigns to boost enrolment, especially for girls upgrading school infrastructure, increased education funding, provision of water and sanitation facilities, stronger community engagement and alignment of policies with global standards and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Earlier, the Acting Secretary of KADBEAM, Simeon Olatunde, said the objective of the engagement was to provide a platform for youth, teachers, parents, School-Based Management Committees and Persons with Disabilities to share experiences and identify Kaduna-specific education challenges.

He listed these challenges to include out-of-school children, teacher shortages—particularly female teachers—and learning quality.

Olatunde said the forum aimed to co-create context-specific, evidence-based advocacy priorities, engage government institutions, civil society, experts and the media, and build political will for sustained education reform.

“It is also to amplify stakeholders’ voices through the media, sustain pressure for reform, and produce advocacy briefs capturing agreed priorities and actions for follow-up with MDAs, SUBEB, LGEAs and oversight bodies,” he said.

Participants at the event agreed that education remains central to human development, social mobility and economic growth, and requires sustained collaboration beyond government-led interventions.