By Jibrin Hussain Kundum
Residents of Jamdan Kogi village in Duguri District, Alkaleri Local Government Area, have appealed to government for an intervention to build a primary school, hoping to reduce the alarming number of out-of-school children in their community.
In an interview with Xchange Hama Media, a community member Malam Salisu Makeri Banjaran expressed their concern over the government’s failure to address their educational needs, despite Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s stated commitment to improving rural education.
Banjaran noted that Jamdan Kogi, a village with a population of approximately 3,500, has nearly 500 children out of school due to the lack of a primary school.
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“The situation is heartbreaking,” Banjaran said. “Our children feel abandoned by the government and their families, deprived of the opportunity to pursue an education.”
He explained that, with no nearby school facilities, many parents in Jamdan Kogi are left with no choice but to send their children to work as herders, rather than seeing them in school.
For those who do attempt schooling, the challenges are steep. Children must travel 9-10 kilometers through bush paths to reach the nearest primary school in Gigera West.
According to him, this daily trek poses safety risks and deters attendance, especially during unfavorable weather when it is too cold or when it rains.
Malam Adamu Muhammad, the Magajin Garin Jamdan Kogi, noted that over the years, the community has repeatedly appealed to local and state authorities without success.
“We have approached officials in Alkaleri Local Government Council and the state government, but there has been no action yet,” he said, calling upon Governor Mohammed to prioritize the village’s need for social amenities.
Similarly, the Ward Head of Jamdan Kogi North, Malam Sa’adu Gambo, urged support from both the government and non-governmental organizations to tackle the area’s pressing challenges.
Efforts to reach the Education Secretary of Alkaleri Local Education Authority for comments on the matter were unsuccessful.
Recently, on September 23, 2024, the Bauchi State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), announced a 2.6 billion naira investment aimed at renovating and constructing educational infrastructure, including boreholes, VIP toilets, and new classroom furniture for primary and junior secondary schools across the state.
At the project’s bid opening ceremony, SUBEB Executive Chairman Alhaji Adamu Muhammad Duguri disclosed the board’s commitment to transparency and warned contractors against any breach of contract agreements.
Residents of Jamdan Kogi hope that this latest investment will extend to their community and bring much-needed educational facilities to the area.
