By Ahmad Umar
United Nations Children Funds, UNICEF has appealed to Gombe State government to invest 10 percent of it’s budget in pre-education in the state.
UNICEF Chief of field Office, Bauchi, Bhanu Pathak made the call on Thursday at a Policy Dialogue on pre-primary education in Gombe
Represented by UNICEF Education Specialist, Maryama Bukar Dikuwa, Pathak observed that early childhood development is the foundation of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and also part of the impact areas of the agency’s focus in the new country programme for Nigeria.
“I pledge UNICEF sustained support to Nigerian Government to ensure quality education and development of Children.
“Investing in policies and programme of childhood development is critical towards the actualisation of the SGDs, however, it requires collective and concerted efforts of all and sundry.
The Chief of the Field office said the agency is committed to collaborating with government institutions, Civil Society Organisation, Faith Based Organisation and other development partners to discuss issues around early childhood education.
Also speaking, Executive Chairman, Gombe Universal Basic Education Board, Professor Mohammed Gurama said that every child is expected to under go one year pre-primary education before enrolment into primary schools
He therefore stressed the need to sensitise and mobilise parents to understand the importance of the pre-primary education.